Purpose: Severe physical facial deformities due to surgical interventions can have significant psychosocial consequences to patient's relationships with friends and family and thus, has a considerable impact on their quality of life. We have developed a 3D prosthesis for a 56-year-old woman diagnosed with epidermoid carcinoma at the right hemiface, to improve her quality of life.
Methods: The patient started radiotherapy with modulated intensity. To deal with the advance of the process, a maxilectomy of supra structure with modified radical cervical emptying on the right hemiface was performed. Reconstruction of areas surgically affected by the displacement of islands of skin and muscle (flaps) from healthy regions was initiated. Although the procedure occurred without intercurrences, the patient developed necrosis and loss of the myocutaneous flap. After the removal of the flap, the esthetic result of the treatment was evident causing exposure of subcutaneous and granulation tissues.
Results: A computational model was used to develop a 3D structure of the affected area and then used to construct the prosthesis. The prosthesis was applied over the affected area, and the patient was able see her face on the mirror for the first time in years. The patient was grateful and hopeful.
Conclusion: We have found that the application of this new technology greatly improves the social interaction of patients with deformities due to surgical interventions.
Keywords: 3D printer; Bioengineering; Esthetics; Facial prosthesis; Oncology; Social inclusion; Squamous cell carcinoma; Stigma.