3d Printing Enables Doctor to Re-construct a Jaw

The patient ‘Mr. P’ had Oral benign and malignant (cancer) tumour on his right jaw which needed a surgical procedure to remove the affected region with a safe margin such that the disease does not spread further. If the surgery was not followed by a re-construction, it would  have ended up in difficultly in speech, swallowing of food and appearances that lead to low social acceptance which could scar the psychology of the patient and also perhaps result in non-employ-ability leading to reduced productive life.

Micro vascular free bone transfer in last decade has given a ray of hope to all these patients. In this procedure, the lost bone of the face is re-constructed with bone from the other parts of the body – preferably,the fibula supporting bone from the lower limb along with its blood vessels to keep it alive. This bone is contoured to the defect and the blood vessels are joined in the neck (One artery carrying oxygenated blood and at least one vein carrying de-oxygenated blood back) – this keeps the bone alive.

Contouring of the straight bone from the leg to the curved jaw bone to fit the the deformity is an enormous challenge that the surgeon comes across. This is extremely important to bring back the facial contour back to simulate the original jaw bones.

3d printing has solved the arbitrary thinking and imagination of the surgeon. The 3d printed models help the surgical team to get ‘near normal shape and size’ of the reconstructed bone. The models printed prior to surgery will help to get most calculations of the lost bone right and the fit of the new bone will be mimicking the original jaw bone. This is especially true in large reconstructions requiring the three dimensional contouring.

This case of a young boy suffering from cancer of the right side jaw bone required the resection of the right half of the mandible. The reconstruction was planned using a 3d printed model prepared by Osteo3d for Dr. Satyajit Dandagi.

The 3d printed model was sterilised and taken to the operation theatre. After the removal of the diseased jaw the bone from the lower limb along with its blood vessels was harvested. This being a straight bone had to be contoured to the fit of the 3 dimensional curved jaw bone. The fit and the shape was checked on the 3d printed model and once satisfied, the bone was fixed to the defect and reconstructed.

3d printing technology by Osteo3d has helped getting accurate measurements and the shape in maintaining the symmetry of the jaw bones. After a few weeks, the patient will be ready for teeth implants and get back to his normal routine!

What does it takes to achieve this? Great doctors who embrace technology! The procedure was conducted by Maxillo-facial Surgeon Dr. Satyajith Dandagi along with his team comprising of Dr. Chavan Purushotam, Dr. Pruthvi Balepur and Dr. Ahutosh Patil in Bangalore, India.

Courtesy: http://blog.osteo3d.com/