ABSTRACT
Tumours of the craniofacial region can result in often grotesque facial disfigurement as a result of surgical intervention and subsequent radiotherapy. Treatment often alters the life-supporting functions of mastication and speech due to the excision of the bony and soft-tissue facial skeleton. Conventional reconstructive techniques can be time consuming, relatively inaccurate and sometimes invasive. The advent of 3D computerized tomography (CT) greatly enhances diagnosis and treatment planning of craniofacial reconstruction and its rehabilitation. This technology has been enhanced more recently with the advent of CT manipulation and virtual surgical planning. The use of this software can enhance reconstruction by reducing clinical time and is therefore cost effective, less invasive and more accurate. The complexity of the surgery dictates the extent of the pre-operative planning and the reconstructive plan can be exported to a rapid prototyping platform, which further enhances the 3D platform to a tactile 3D model.
