Background: The accuracy of computer-assisted biopsies at the lower jaw was compared to the accuracy of freehand biopsies.
Methods: Patients with a bony lesion of the lower jaw with an indication for biopsy were prospectively enrolled. Two customized bone models per patient were produced using a 3D printer. The models of the lower jaw were fitted into a phantom head model to simulate operation room conditions. Biopsies for the study group were taken by means of surgical guides and freehand biopsies were performed for the control group.
Results: The deviation of the biopsy axes from the planning was significantly less when using templates. It turned out to be 1.3 ± 0.6 mm for the biopsies with a surgical guide and 3.9 ± 1.1 mm for the freehand biopsies.
Conclusions: Surgical guides allow significantly higher accuracy of biopsies. The preliminary results are promising, but clinical evaluation is necessary.
Keywords: 3D-printed bone model; 3D-printed surgical guide; Biopsy; Computer-assisted surgery; Computer-guided surgery; Stereolithography.