Cost-effective Solution for Maxillofacial Reconstruction Surgery with Virtual Surgical Planning and 3D Printed Cutting Guides Reduces Operative Time

Background: This study aimed to explore a low-cost solution for virtual surgical planning/3D printed surgical guides in a training hospital, assessing the impact on intraoperative time and bleeding. Material and Methods: We included a total of 13 patients. 8 who underwent maxillofacial reconstruction surgery with fibula-free flap utilizing virtual surgical planning/3D printed guides (VP/SG), and 5 using conventional surgery (CS) from 2017 to 2020. The surgical time, bleeding, length of hospital stay, and comorbidities were collected and compared in two groups. We recorded the average cost for the complete surgical planning and 3D printed guides. We applied a qualitative survey to the surgeons involved in the surgical procedures. Results The mean surgical time in the VP/SG group was 8.16 +/- 2.7, compared to the CS group 12.5 +/- 3.8, showing a 4.34 hours difference with statistical significance (p = 0.033). Patients from the CS group had a higher bleeding volume of 921 +/- 467.6 mL VS 760 +/- 633.8 mL in the VP/SG group. The average cost for the complete surgical planning and 3D printed guides was 914.44 +/- 46.39 USD. All the surgeons who answered the survey preferred to perform the procedure utilizing the virtual planning/3D printed guides. Conclusions Virtual planning and 3D printed surgical guides have the potential to reduce operation time in maxillofacial reconstruction.