Stereolithography: A Recent Tool in Diagnosis, Treatment Planning, and Management of Craniofacial Deformities - Proceedings of All India Seminar on Biomedical Engineering 2012 (AISOBE-2012) - page 3

Fig. 2 The pictorial
presentation of the complete
process of fabrication of a
stereolithographic model
results using a stereolithographic model as a guide for reconstruction [ 16 - 19 ].
Facial asymmetry, when obvious, has enormous socio-psychological impact on the
affected individuals. It can occur as a consequence of developmental anomalies or
disease or after trauma or surgery. Surgical reconstruction is usually indicated in
most instances involving a noticeable facial asymmetry. In such surgeries the use
of a rapid prototype technique—SL can help yield accurate, esthetic, and desired
results.
SL models have the following range of applications:
• To aid production of a surgical implant
• To improve surgical planning
• To act as an orienting aid during surgery
• To enhance diagnostic quality
• To be useful in preoperative simulation
• To achieve patient's agreement prior to surgery
• To prepare a template for resection
The technique of color SL was developed very recently. This technique allows
the selective coloring of structures in the 3D solid model. The 3D information of a
solid model combined with the extra information from the selective coloring of
certain anatomical structures both combine as an ultimate diagnostic and preop-
erative planning tool [ 20 ].
Clinical Applications
Traumatology
Stereolithographic models in trauma cases have proven to be useful in terms of
visualizing the bony displacement, facilitating anatomical reduction, minimizing
surgical approaches, and saving operating time [ 14 ]. Due to surgery simulation it