Advantages of surgical simulation in the surgical reconstruction of oncological patients.

Abstract

Stereolithography, which consists of computer-aided designed/computer-aided manufactured (CAD-CAM) and computer simulations, is a manufacturing technologies used for the production of definitive models and prototypes printed in three dimensions, and is widely used in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Surgical procedures using models made by these technologies offer several advantages. This article describes three clinical cases of our experiences with patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma and mandibular osteosarcoma, who underwent surgical removal of the lesions and subsequent mandibular reconstruction with a free fibula graft using surgical guides. In all three clinical cases, surgical guides were used for the mandibular osteotomy, fibula osteotomy, and graft placement in the recipient area. Surgical guidelines are useful for improving the accuracy of surgical interventions and are appropriate for many types of resection and mandibular reconstruction.