title: Clinical feasibility and efficacy of using virtual surgical planning in bimaxillary orthognathic surgery without intermediate splint.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Computer-aided jaw surgery has been extensively studied recently. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical feasibility of performing bimaxillary orthognathic surgery without intermediate splint using virtual surgical planning and rapid prototyping technology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve consecutive patients who underwent bimaxillary orthognathic surgery were included. The presented treatment plan here mainly consists of 6 procedures: (1) data acquisition from computed tomography (CT) of the skull and laser scanning of the dentition; (2) reconstruction and fusion of a virtual skull model with accurate dentition; (3) virtual surgery simulation including osteotomy and movement and repositioning of bony segments; (4) final surgical splint fabrication (no intermediate splint) using computer-aided design and rapid prototyping technology; (5) transfer of the virtual surgical plan to the operating room; and (6) comparison of the actual surgical outcome to the virtual surgical plan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All procedures of the treatment were successfully performed on all 12 patients. In quantification of differences between simulated and actual postoperative outcome, we found that the mean linear difference was less than 1.8 mm, and the mean angular difference was less than 2.5 degrees in all evaluated patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results from this study suggested that it was feasible to perform bimaxillary orthognathic surgery without intermediate splint. Virtual surgical planning and the guiding splints facilitated the diagnosis, treatment planning, accurate osteotomy, and bony segments repositioning in orthognathic surgery.
authors.affiliation: From the State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Yunfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yangmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Songsong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D063166:Maxillary Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*; D017090:Occlusal Splints; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010027:Osteotomy; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D013165:Splints; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D055815:Young Adult