The development of computer-aided patient-specific template design software for 3D printing in cranio-maxillofacial surgery

Background The patient-specific templates for osteotomy often have complex surface features. Using current commercial software to design such templates is quite complicated, tedious and unrepeatable. Aims In this study, a novel surgical planning system for oral and maxillofacial surgery named EasyTemplate is developed, aiming to help doctors shorten the modelling time and assure the reliability in template design. Materials & Methods In the simplified design process of an osteotomy guide, the main template can be formed efficiently using a surface offsetting algorithm, which is based on isosurface extraction and oriented bounding box. Thereafter, the cutting grooves can be generated automatically. Results A complicated surgical guide could be built accurately in about 10 min. Clinical orthognathic cases were conducted successfully using osteotomy and repositioning templates designed by EasyTemplate. Discussion Compared with commercially available softwares, higher efficiency and simpler design process were achieved, moreover, the time cost is one-third or even less. Conclusion EasyTemplate can be a useful alternative to traditional softwares. This software allows the auto-generation algorithm which helps avoid a tedious modeling process while providing basic shapes for designers.

Automated summary

EasyTemplate is a surgical planning system for oral and maxillofacial surgery that can efficiently build complex surgical guides in about 10 minutes using surface offsetting algorithm and automatic cutting groove generation. Compared with commercially available softwares, EasyTemplate achieves higher efficiency and simpler design process, with time cost being one-third or less.