3D printing found to have utility in mandibular distraction surgery

Surgeons at Shanghai 9th People's Hospital assessed the use of 3D printing to plan and carry out the surgery. An interventional clinical trial at Shanghai 9th People's Hospital (Shanghai, China) has assessed the accuracy of a 3D printed model for planning and performing mandibular distraction surgery. Mandibular distraction is a procedure utilized to lengthen a small or recessed jaw, which can cause breathing difficulties if untreated. In a study published in the International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, surgeons utilized 3D models to virtually plan the surgeries, simulating the distraction and determining the optimal morphology. Cutting guides and custom...