Application of Computer-Aided Design and Customized Implants in the Reconstruction of Pyriform Aperture Defects Secondary to Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate.

PURPOSE: To design and develop customized implants with the rapid prototyping (RP) technique in order to reconstruct the defected pyriform aperture.

METHODS

A 3-dimensional digital model was reconstructed with the software proplan CMF based on the computed tomography data of the patient's skeleton. Then an individualized implant was designed by computer-aided design (CAD) and prepared with the RP technique. A total of 5 patients (3 males and 2 females) with unilateral secondary nasal deformities received the customized implants in this study.

RESULTS

All the implants closely matched the surface of the defects. During the 12- to 24-month follow-up period, all the patients reported satisfactory outcomes except for 1 patient where exposure of the implant was observed and had to be removed 3 months after the surgery.

CONCLUSION

With high precision and matching degree, individualized implants designed by CAD and prepared with the RP technique can be used to overcome the limitations of ready-made materials and improve the accuracy of the surgical procedure in reconstructing the defected pyriform aperture.