Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open (Nov 2018)

Reconstruction of Complex Maxillary Defects Using Patient-specific 3D-printed Biodegradable Scaffolds

  • Hyun Ho Han, MD, PhD,
  • Jin-Hyung Shim, PhD,
  • Hyungseok Lee, PhD,
  • Bo Young Kim, MD,
  • Jeong-Seok Lee, BS,
  • Jin Woo Jung, PhD,
  • Won-Soo Yun, PhD,
  • Chung Hwan Baek, MD, PhD,
  • Jong-Won Rhie, MD, PhD,
  • Dong-Woo Cho, PhD

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000001975
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6, no. 11
p. e1975

Abstract

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Summary:. Reconstruction of maxilla defects has remained one of the most challenging problems in craniomaxillofacial reconstruction because it typically requires harvesting and grafting of autologous bone, which poses limitations related to the difficulties in accurately reconstructing the defected bone and the highly prolonged duration of surgery. We employed tissue-engineered, patient-specific, 3-dimensional (3D)-printed biodegradable scaffolds for maxillofacial bone reconstruction in patients with complex maxillary defects after surgical removal of cancer. A customized polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold was designed and fabricated for each patient. For this purpose, we used computer-aided design and manufacturing combined with 3D printing technology. The patients implanted with the PCL scaffolds were followed up for up to 2 years with careful evaluation of morphological changes in the face. We confirmed that the patient-specific 3D-printed PCL scaffold effectively filled the maxillary defect and promoted regeneration of the deficient tissue while remaining stable in the body for a relatively long period. Employing customized tissue-engineered scaffolds built using the patient’s computed tomography data and an extrusion-based 3D printing system is safe and clinically feasible, helping create and maintain improved morphological features of the face, which represents the most important aspect from the perspective of the patients.