Application of 3D-printed Surgical Cutting Guide in Anterior Mandibular Body Ostectomy

Abstract

Complications in mandibular surgeries involve nerve and root injuries. Due to the variation of the intraosseous pattern of the inferior alveolar nerve and roots among patients, the risk of injury remains high in complex cases of mandibular body surgeries. This technical note aims to introduce a novel design of surgical cutting guide used in anterior mandibular body ostectomy. Roots of neighboring teeth and the inferior alveolar nerve are segmented and visualized in 3-dimension. Osteotomy planes designed in virtual surgical planning provide an accurate safety distance to the nerve and roots. These planes are translated to a bone-based cutting guide to ensure the osteotomy is conducted as planned. Application of the cutting guide offers protection to the neighboring structures and the simplified structure requires limited preoperative design time of the cutting guide. Therefore, the authors believe this surgical cutting guide would bring accuracy and efficiency to mandibular surgeries.