Three-dimensional osteotomy planning in maxillofacial surgery including soft tissue prediction

Preoperative planning of complex osteotomies in craniomaxillofacial surgery, in conjunction with a surgeon's expertise, is essential for achieving an optimal result. However, the soft tissue changes that accompany facial bone movements cannot yet be accurately predicted. Bony tissue, because of its greater density, can be better predicted, but it alone does not account for the final aesthetic result. A new approach using not only three-dimensional (3-D) surface models of the patient's anatomy, but also a corresponding volumetric model, is discussed. This 3-D planning software was used in the treatment of 15 patients and was found to provide a good correlation between simulation and postoperative outcome.