Primary Clinical Research of a Patient Specific Implant System for an Old Zygomaticomaxillary Complex Comminuted Fracture

Abstract

The objective of this study was to expound a novel surgical management technique assisted by patient-specific implants (PSIs) for comminuted fractures of the zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC). The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of using PSIs to accurately restore and fix comminuted fractures. A male patient with an old ZMC comminuted fracture was used to describe the workflow, technique, and method. Computerassisted surgical simulation was used to determine the optimal plan for the reduction of bone segments prior to surgery. The PSIs were used to accurately guide the surgeon’s position of the bone segments, as planned, during the operation. Oral panoramic films and cephalometric films were taken immediately at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the operation, while computed tomography images of the whole skull were taken immediately, half a year, and one year after the operation. The patient’s follow-up showed that the zygomatic symmetry recovered well post-surgery and the patient was satisfied with the outcome. This new surgical method greatly improved the facial symmetry of this patient.