title: Individual preformed titanium meshes for orbital fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this investigation was to develop and test the accuracy of a procedure for fabricating individual preformed titanium meshes for orbital fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preoperative CT datasets from five patients with orbital fractures were used for 3D reconstruction by mirroring the unaffected side onto the defective one, resulting in a new sub-volume. A template for adaptation of the titanium mesh was produced by applying these sub-volumes. Navigation-aided procedures guaranteed the exact placement of the preformed mesh during the operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The accuracy of the reconstructed orbital floor was determined to be approximately 1 mm, which lies within the technical limit of detection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate a further application or navigation-aided reconstruction, which will serve as a pilot project for further investigations. Clustered databases of patients will be used to produce various template sets, reflecting ideal skeletons, according to age, sex, and other patient variables. These could be used for manufacturing preformed osteosynthesis templates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiberg, Germany. Marc_Metzger@gmx.net
authors.forename: Marc Christian
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Metzger
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schön
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schulze
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gutwald
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmelzeisen
mesh_terms: D016208:Databases, Factual; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D014025:Titanium; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed
chemical_list: D014025:Titanium