Effective Reconstruction of Extensive Orbital Floor Fractures Using Rapid Prototyping Model.

Kim, Hye Young; Oh, Deuk Young; Lee, Woo Sung; Moon, Suk Ho; Seo, Je Won; Lee, Jung Ho; Rhie, Jong Won; Ahn, Sang Tae

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 2010;37(5):633-638.
Published online September 1, 2010.

Effective Reconstruction of Extensive Orbital Floor Fractures Using Rapid Prototyping Model.

Hye Young Kim, Deuk Young Oh, Woo Sung Lee, Suk Ho Moon, Je Won Seo, Jung Ho Lee, Jong Won Rhie, Sang Tae Ahn

Department of Plastic Surgery, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. ohdeuk1234@hanmail.net

Abstract

PURPOSE
Orbital bone is one of the most complex bones in the human body. When the patient has a fracture of the orbital bone, it is difficult for the surgeon to restore the fractured orbital bone to normal anatomic curvature because the orbital bone has complex curvature. We developed a rapid prototyping model based on a mirror image of the patient's 3D-CT (3 dimensional computed tomography) for accurate reduction of the fractured orbital wall. METHODS: A total of 7 cases of large orbital wall fracture recieved absorbable plate prefabrication using rapid prototyping model during surgery and had the manufactured plate inserted in the fracture site.
RESULTS
There was no significant postoperative complication. One patient had persistent diplopia, but it was resolved completely after 5 weeks. Enophthalmos was improved in all patients.
CONCLUSION
With long term follow-up, this new method of orbital wall reduction proved to be accurate, efficient and cost-effective, and we recommend this method for difficult large orbital wall fracture operations.

Keywords: Orbital fractures; Absorbable implants; Computer-aided design; Computer simulation