title: 3D-printed transparent facemasks in the treatment of facial hypertrophic scars of young children with burns.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Facial burns could create serious scar problems resulting disfigurement particularly on children. The conventional methods of producing transparent face masks for scar control remains complex and require dexterous skills of experienced clinician and patients' compliance during fitting. In this study, we adopted a portable 3D scanning and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) to produce 3D-printed transparent facemasks. Its efficacy was tested on two children with facial burns resulting hypertrophic scars.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study adopted a longitudinal case follow up research design. Two children with facial burns were recruited in the study upon consent. Their facial features were scanned with a portable 3D scanner and then edited and converted to the target files: the customized printable facemask files. The transparent facemask was directly printed out on the transparent biocompatible material followed by adding the medical grade silicone gel to provide extra pressure on the scar site. The facemasks were fitted to the patients with elastic straps connecting the printed anchoring bolts. Both children and family were instructed to wear the facemask for at least 20h per day and they were assessed before treatment, one month and three months after treatment on the facial scar conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the one-month and three-month assessments after treatment, a decrease in average scar thickness was shown and the facial appearance was satisfactory. The 3D-printed facemasks were well fitted on both patients. The treatment was well-tolerated and no complication was reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  3D-printed transparent facemask is convenient and efficient to fabricate, and is suitable for treating pediatric facial hypertrophic scars after burn.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Yating
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong SAR, China. Electronic address: cecilia.li@polyu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Cecilia W P
authors.initials: CWP
authors.lastname: Li-Tsang
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
authors.forename: Shukai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yue
mesh_terms: D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008397:Masks; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D020034:Silicone Gels / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016038:Skin Transplantation
chemical_list: D020034:Silicone Gels
keywords: 3D printing; Children; Facemask; Facial burns; Hypertrophic scar