Wei Yating, Li-Tsang Cecilia W P, Liu Jun, Xie Lihua, Yue Shukai
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Burns. 2017 May;43(3):e19-e26. doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2016.08.034. Epub 2016 Dec 28.
Facial burns could create serious scar problems resulting disfigurement particularly on children. The conventional methods of producing transparent face masks for scar control remains complex and require dexterous skills of experienced clinician and patients' compliance during fitting. In this study, we adopted a portable 3D scanning and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) to produce 3D-printed transparent facemasks. Its efficacy was tested on two children with facial burns resulting hypertrophic scars.
This study adopted a longitudinal case follow up research design. Two children with facial burns were recruited in the study upon consent. Their facial features were scanned with a portable 3D scanner and then edited and converted to the target files: the customized printable facemask files. The transparent facemask was directly printed out on the transparent biocompatible material followed by adding the medical grade silicone gel to provide extra pressure on the scar site. The facemasks were fitted to the patients with elastic straps connecting the printed anchoring bolts. Both children and family were instructed to wear the facemask for at least 20h per day and they were assessed before treatment, one month and three months after treatment on the facial scar conditions.
At the one-month and three-month assessments after treatment, a decrease in average scar thickness was shown and the facial appearance was satisfactory. The 3D-printed facemasks were well fitted on both patients. The treatment was well-tolerated and no complication was reported.
3D-printed transparent facemask is convenient and efficient to fabricate, and is suitable for treating pediatric facial hypertrophic scars after burn.
面部烧伤可能会导致严重的瘢痕问题，尤其是在儿童身上，会造成容貌损毁。传统的制作用于瘢痕控制的透明面罩的方法仍然很复杂，需要经验丰富的临床医生具备娴熟的技巧，且在佩戴时需要患者配合。在本研究中，我们采用便携式三维扫描和计算机辅助设计（CAD）来制作3D打印透明面罩。在两名因面部烧伤导致增生性瘢痕的儿童身上测试了其效果。
本研究采用纵向病例随访研究设计。经同意招募了两名面部烧伤儿童参与研究。用便携式三维扫描仪扫描他们的面部特征，然后进行编辑并转换为目标文件：定制的可打印面罩文件。在透明生物相容性材料上直接打印出透明面罩，随后添加医用级硅胶凝胶以在瘢痕部位提供额外压力。用弹性带连接打印出的固定螺栓将面罩固定在患者身上。指导儿童及其家人每天至少佩戴面罩20小时，并在治疗前、治疗后1个月和3个月对面部瘢痕状况进行评估。
在治疗后的1个月和3个月评估中，平均瘢痕厚度有所降低，面部外观令人满意。3D打印面罩在两名患者身上都佩戴良好。治疗耐受性良好，未报告并发症。
3D打印透明面罩制作方便、高效，适用于治疗儿童烧伤后面部增生性瘢痕。
