Latest trends in craniomaxillofacial surgical instrumentation.
OBJECTIVE
To review the past year's literature regarding recent innovations in surgical instrumentation for craniomaxillofacial surgery.


RESULTS
Current advances in surgical instrumentation have led to many improvements in the field, allowing greater visualization and precision both before and during procedures. One of the common goals is to achieve excellent outcomes with minimal complications, while at the same time minimizing invasiveness of surgery. Highlighted innovations include greater capacities for acquisition of data, leading to improved imaging modalities and expansion of computer-assisted surgical techniques; continued developments in biomaterials used in various reconstructions; and novel uses of bone cutting and bone fixation instrumentation.


CONCLUSIONS
Technology in the field of craniomaxillofacial surgery is developing rapidly, leading to novel instrumentation being utilized across a broad spectrum of areas. Published data have been encouraging to date, indicating an ever increasing adaptation of these innovations in clinical practice. Future efforts need to focus on cost-benefit analysis and constructing larger-scale studies to better understand effectiveness and patient outcomes.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA.
Michael
M
Yim
Joshua
J
Demke
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000293:Adolescent; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000639:trends; D002648:Child; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000639:trends; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000639:trends; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000639:trends; D008446:Maxillofacial Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D057909:Orthognathic Surgery / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000639:trends; D059745:Piezosurgery / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000639:trends; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000639:trends; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000639:trends; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000639:trends; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000639:trends
D001672:Biocompatible Materials