A simple and free software-based inferior alveolar nerve protector surgical guide in bilateral sagittal split osteotomy.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES This technical note introduces a novel concept of a alveolar inferior nerve protector guide during orthognathic surgery based on a free-software creation and printing. TECHNICAL NOTE Orthognathic surgery using Virtual Surgical Planning software like Dolphin Imaging ® v 11.9 facilitated a bimaxillary procedure with mandible advancement and occlusal plane correction, later followed by 3D printing of splints. The process involved importing a composite skull with osteotomies into Blender ® software, where solids were added and edited to match Dolphin's osteotomies, ensuring bone contact without distortion. The guide creation was performed adhering to bilateral sagittal split osteotomy principles, maintaining precision, resulting in preserved inferior alveolar nerve and faster operation times compared to non-guided procedures, as demonstrated by postoperative CT scans. CONCLUSIONS Integrating advanced tools like Blender software into maxillofacial surgery represents a significant advancement. Despite challenges like the absence of specific manuals for this purpose in Blender, using such software offers innovative and cost-effective solutions. Developing user-friendly resources tailored to surgical applications such as a protector guide within Blender can enhance its usability and improve surgical outcomes and patient care, leading to groundbreaking advancements in maxillofacial surgery.