Computer applications in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Computer applications in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery continue to evolve as image-guided surgical technology and software applications improve. Surgeons use these technological advances in order to simplify complex and historically challenging reconstructive issues. This paper reviews the recent literature pertaining to advances in computer-aided presurgical planning and intraoperative navigation.

RECENT FINDINGS

Although many different computer-aided surgical applications have previously been described, the recent literature focuses on orbital, midface and mandibular reconstruction. These studies highlight primary and secondary repair of complex maxillofacial trauma using computer software platforms for analysis of computed tomography data, presurgical planning, and intraoperative navigation.

SUMMARY

Computer-assisted facial reconstructive surgery is an area which continues to evolve. The current technology is best served in the repair of complex primary or secondary posttraumatic deformities. Congenital and oncologic reconstructive applications, however, are growing rapidly. While computer-aided surgery has historically been limited to tertiary care centers, easy access to intraoperative navigation systems and more user friendly software applications make these techniques more accessible to a greater number of surgeons.