title: Dimensional error in selective laser sintering and 3D-printing of models for craniomaxillary anatomy reconstruction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Selective laser sintering (SLS) and three-dimensional printing (3DPtrade mark) are rapid prototyping (RP) techniques to fabricate prototypes from biomedical images. To be used in maxillofacial surgery, these models must accurately reproduce the craniofacial skeleton.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the capacity of SLS and 3DPtrade mark models to reproduce craniomaxillary anatomy and their dimensional error.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dry skull, helical computed-tomography images, SLS and 3DPtrade mark prototypes, and electronic calliper.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tomographic images of a dry skull were manipulated with the InVesalius biomedical software. Prototypes were fabricated using SLS and 3DPtrade mark techniques. Ten linear measurements were made on the models and compared with corresponding dry skull measurements (criterion standard) carried out with an electronic calliper.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed a dimensional error of 2.10 and 2.67% for SLS and 3DPtrade mark models, respectively. The models satisfactorily reproduced anatomic details, except for thin bones, small foramina and acute bone projections. The SLS prototypes showed greater dimensional precision and reproduced craniomaxillary anatomy more accurately than the 3DPtrade mark models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both SLS and 3DPtrade mark models provided acceptable precision and may be useful aids in most maxillofacial surgeries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. danitxf@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Daniela Nascimento
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Marília
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gerhardt de Oliveira
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meurer
authors.forename: Maria Inês
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Meurer
authors.forename: Jorge Vicente
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Lopes da Silva
authors.forename: Ailton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santa-Bárbara
mesh_terms: D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D007834:Lasers; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D011474:Prosthesis Design / Q000379:methods*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013515:Surgery, Oral / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed