Advances in Imaging Over 100 Years: The Impact on Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

An Exploration of Multidisciplinary Team Care With Digital Technology for Complicated Cranio-Maxillofacial Bone Defects and Fractures

OBJECTIVE

Early treatment of fractures of the cranio-maxillofacial complex (CMFC) is challenging and likely to result in craniofacial deformity. Multidisciplinary team (MDT) care has developed very rapidly and has recently been accepted in cancer treatment. Therefore, the authors explored the application of MDT care with digital technology in CMFC fractures.

STUDY DESIGN

A 29-year-old man presented for treatment of CMFC fractures and bone defects. An MDT of oral surgeons, ophthalmic surgeons, neurological surgeons, and other experts was convened. After CT scan and three-dimensional reconstruction, the authors performed personalized surgery that included 9 specialists over an 8-hour period.

RESULTS

The operation was successful and all fractures achieved clinical stability. At 1-month follow-up, appropriate appearance and functional recovery had been achieved.

CONCLUSION

In this study, MDT care with digital technology was very effective and had low associated costs. The involvement of more disciplines in MDT care may result in fewer complications.

Guided Lateral Sinus Lift Procedure Using 3-Dimensionally Printed Templates for a Safe Surgical Approach: A Proof-of-Concept Case Report

The purpose of this article was to present a guided lateral window sinus lift procedure with the aid of a fully digital workflow using surgical templates for window osteotomy preparation and implant placement. A 22-year-old patient with insufficient residual bone height in the posterior maxilla was treated with a maxillary sinus augmentation procedure with a lateral window technique and simultaneous implant installation using 3-dimensionally printed surgical guides. The surgical guides, used for the preparation of both the lateral window and the implant site according to the optimal prosthodontic and anatomic position, were based on a fully digital workflow and virtual pre-planning with modified implant-planning software. Successful functional and esthetic rehabilitation of the patient was accomplished using standard surgical techniques and instruments but an innovative method for the production and application of surgical templates ensured a precise and safe approach for the lateral window osteotomy preparation. This guided lateral window sinus lift technique may reduce the incidence of surgical complications and failures and enhance patient-related outcomes.