Surface scanned 3D designed customized chinstrap for the treatment of intraoral dehiscence in polytraumatized patient. Technical note.

ABSTRACT

The advent of 3D surgical technology has revolutionized personalized medicine, enabling the development of tailored solutions for individual patients. This technical note presents the application of 3D technology in designing a customized chin guard using flexible 3D resin. The process involves surface scanning the lower facial region of a polytraumatized patient with a structured-light surface 3D scanner, generating a detailed point cloud. The acquired data undergoes meticulous processing within an specific professional software, including erasing unwanted portions, aligning frames, and mesh consolidation. Subsequently, the mesh is exported as an STL file and further refined using a 3D mesh management software. A customized chin support is designed for the specific patient's needs, exported in STL format, and 3D printed using a stereolithography (SLA) printer with Flexible 80A resin. Post-printing procedures involve washing and curing to ensure biocompatibility and optimal mechanical characteristics. The resultant customized chin guard, attached to elastic support straps, offers a precise fit to the patient's anatomy, enhancing comfort and allowing for extended wear. This innovative approach addresses the challenge of surgical intraoral wound dehiscence in a polytraumatized patient, showcasing the potential of 3D technology in personalized medical solutions for complex cases. Key wordsSurface scanner, 3D surgery, customized surgery, chinstrap.