Orthognathic model surgery by using of a passive Robot Arm

Purpose: The possibility of using a passive Robot Arm (3D method) in model surgery and comparing with manual technique model surgery. Patients and methods: Seventeen patients undergoing orthognathic surgery gave consent for this study. Model surgery was performed by using a manual technique and using the Robot Arm. The model surgery that was performed by using the manual technique named group A and the one performed by the Robot Arm named group B. Patients' maxillary casts were measured before and after model surgery, and results were compared with those for the original treatment plan in the horizontal (X-axis), vertical (Y-axis), and transverse (Z-axis) planes. Results: Statistical analysis using Mann-Whitney U test for X-and Y-axis and independent sample t test for Z-axis have shown significant differences between both groups in X-axis (P = .026) and Y-axis (P =. 021) but not in Z-axis (P = .762). Conclusions: Model surgery performed with a Robot Arm is more accurate in all dimensions X, Y, and Z than the manual model surgery. (C) 2010 King Saud University. All rights reserved.