Abstract

CONTO, Ferdinando De et al. Reconstruction of craniofacial bone defects with customized implants - a pilot study. RFO UPF [online]. 2014, vol.19, n.1, pp. 63-69. ISSN 1413-4012.

Rapid Prototyping has proved to be a very useful tool to aid the development of new products in the biomedical field. This technology allows obtaining physical prototypes from the conversion of X-ray computed tomography images. Objective: The aim of this pilot study was to test the accuracy of the prototyping process by three-dimensional printing technology. Materials and method: Biomodels were made from customized prosthesis produced by the reverse engineering design method for the reconstruction of bone defects in the craniofacial complex, created on human dry skull. Results: Comparing both measures, there was neither significant difference nor a considerable deviation when the original bones were graphically compared to their respective prototypes. Conclusion: This study shows that the reverse engineering design method for obtaining a biomodel, and its creation by using Rapid Prototyping may be a viable therapeutic alternative, considering this method offers faithful reconstructions for using patients themselves as models.

Keywords : Tomography.; Three-dimensional imaging.; Anatomic models..