Biomechanical Evaluation and Factorial Analysis of the 3-Dimensional Printing Self-Designed Metallic Reconstruction Plate for Mandibular Segmental Defect

Ting-Sheng Lin; Tzu-Fen Chiu; Jui-Ting Hsu; Chien-Chung Chen; Li-Ren Chang; Heng-Li Huang

doi:10.1016/j.joms.2021.11.022

Biomechanical Evaluation and Factorial Analysis of the 3-Dimensional Printing Self-Designed Metallic Reconstruction Plate for Mandibular Segmental Defect

J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2022 Apr;80(4):775-783. doi: 10.1016/j.joms.2021.11.022. Epub 2021 Dec 4.

Authors

Ting-Sheng Lin¹, Tzu-Fen Chiu², Jui-Ting Hsu³, Chien-Chung Chen⁴, Li-Ren Chang⁴, Heng-Li Huang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. & Director, Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering Center, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
² Master Student, School of Dentistry, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
³ Professor, School of Dentistry, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. & Joint Professor, Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁴ Attending Physician, Department of Plastic Surgery, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
⁵ Professor, School of Dentistry, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. & Joint Professor, Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: henleyh@gmail.com.

PMID: 34968419
DOI: 10.1016/j.joms.2021.11.022

Abstract

Purpose: Reconstruction plates are frequently used to treat mandibular segmental defects. The aim of this study is to compare the biomechanical performance of a 3-dimensional-printed self-designed titanium alloy reconstruction plate with that of the traditional reconstruction plate in mandible reconstruction. The analyzed parameters of the self-designed reconstruction plate, including plate length (100 mm and 125 mm), plate thickness (2.1, 2.4, and 2.7 mm), and bone mass (100, 75, and 50%), were also evaluated.

Methods: An artificial mandible with anatomical geometry was used to develop the self-designed reconstructed plate. Both in vitro experiments and finite element simulations were performed for the biomechanical comparison of the self-designed and traditional reconstruction plates. In finite element analysis, 3 major muscle forces of mandible movement were set as the loading condition, and the displacement of the condyle was fixed in all directions as the boundary condition.

Results: The biomechanical performances (stresses in the plate and strains in bone) of the self-designed reconstruction plate were superior to those of the traditional plate. Factorial analysis indicated that plate length and thickness had significant effects on decreasing stresses of the plate and mandibular bone.

Conclusions: The self-designed reconstruction plate might have a benefit to reduce the stresses/strains in plate itself and surrounding bone.

MeSH terms

Biomechanical Phenomena
Bone Plates
Finite Element Analysis
Humans
Mandible* / surgery
Mandibular Reconstruction* / methods
Printing, Three-Dimensional
Stress, Mechanical