3D-Printing Technologies for Craniofacial Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, and Regeneration.
The treatment of craniofacial defects can present many challenges due to the variety of tissue-specific requirements and the complexity of anatomical structures in that region. 3D-printing technologies provide clinicians, engineers and scientists with the ability to create patient-specific solutions for craniofacial defects. Currently, there are three key strategies that utilize these technologies to restore both appearance and function to patients: rehabilitation, reconstruction and regeneration. In rehabilitation, 3D-printing can be used to create prostheses to replace or cover damaged tissues. Reconstruction, through plastic surgery, can also leverage 3D-printing technologies to create custom cutting guides, fixation devices, practice models and implanted medical devices to improve patient outcomes. Regeneration of tissue attempts to replace defects with biological materials. 3D-printing can be used to create either scaffolds or living, cellular constructs to signal tissue-forming cells to regenerate defect regions. By integrating these three approaches, 3D-printing technologies afford the opportunity to develop personalized treatment plans and design-driven manufacturing solutions to improve aesthetic and functional outcomes for patients with craniofacial defects.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 400 N. Broadway, Smith 5023, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA.
Ethan L
EL
Nyberg
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 400 N. Broadway, Smith 5023, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA.
Ashley L
AL
Farris
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 400 N. Broadway, Smith 5023, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA.
Ben P
BP
Hung
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 400 N. Broadway, Smith 5023, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA.
Miguel
M
Dias
Department of Art as Applied to Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Juan R
JR
Garcia
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Amir H
AH
Dorafshar
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 400 N. Broadway, Smith 5023, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA. wgrayson@jhmi.edu.|Department of Material Sciences & Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. wgrayson@jhmi.edu.
Warren L
0000-0001-6099-6469
WL
Grayson
D000818:Animals; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D023822:Tissue Engineering
3D-printing; Craniofacial implants; Facial prosthetics; Regenerative medicine; Scaffolds; Tissue engineering