THE SIMPLANT CMF SOFTWARE: A NEW WAY OF PLANNING IN ORTHOGNATHIC SURGERY

Objective: The aim of this study is to present a virtual-reality software for surgeons to perform virtual orthognathic surgical planning with 3D hard- and soft-tissue prediction. The study evaluates the role of a new computer imaging software (Simplant CMF software - Materialise) to plan the outcome of soft tissues after bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. Materials & Methods: The study sample consisted of 6 adults pts who had undergone orthognathic surgery that included Le Fort I and Bilateral Sagittal Split Osteotomy procedures and optional genioplasty to correct malformations. All the patients had cephalometric radiographs and CT scan. The surgical planning system consists of four stages: computed tomography data reconstruction, three-dimensional facial hard- and soft-tissue model generation, different virtual surgical plannings and simulations, preoperative predictions of soft-tissue changements. The surgical planning and simulation are based on a 3D CT reconstructed bone model; the soft-tissue prediction is based on physical algorithm. Results: The software rapidly generates many simulations and soft tissue predictions according the clinical options; so it is possible to plan the surgery choosing between different aesthetic results. Preoperative plannings were prepared working with the orthodontist to avoid functional problems. Conclusions: Simplant software is able to provide a prediction of postoperative appearance with realistic quality. The simulation can be visualized from any viewing point using a personal-computer-based system, so this solution can be adopted for hospital daily use. The accuracy of the software in soft tissue will be discussed