Anterolateral thigh perforator flap made by customized 3D-printing fabrication of fixed positioning guide for oromaxillofacial reconstruction:a preliminary study

Oromaxillofacial carcinomas frequently result in serious tissue defect due to enlarged resection for treating their extensive invasion, which require challenging reconstruction. Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an advanced technology which has greatly promoted the progress of craniomaxillofacial reconstructive surgery. This present study aimed to investigate the advantages of anterolateral thigh (ALT) perforator flap manufactured by 3D printing fixed positioning guide template in curing oromaxillofacial defect. Twenty patients with oromaxillofacial defects resulted from severe primary malignant tumors were divided into experimental group assisted by digital technique (n=8) and controlled …