Visualization And Analysis Of Three Dimensional Shape Change: Surgical Pre-planning, Implant And Prosthesis Design And Fabrication

Abstract

Plastic and reconstructive surgeons, otorhinolaryngologists. orthodontists, and other practitioners that deal with construction, reconstruction. and esthetics of the head and face report outcomes using subjective anecdotal terms. supported by before and after photographs oftheir best case results. Similar case presentations can be found in any number of reports from other surgical specialties and disciplines in medicine. That 50 much of mediche. and the life sciences in general. have resisted quantitation and the development ofalogicomathanatical framework is not because it is too complex (all of nature is complex). but because qualitative and empirical deduction have provlded a sufficient fraroework for experimentation and prediction. New technology that allows for safe, rapid data collection is available which provides a new tool for morphologists. syndromologists. surgeons, and othersrequiringthree dimensional information onthe humanbody. The results ofthe use ofthis data collection technology is reported as is the development of a specialized software program, for measurement and surface quantlfication. called Lego. hgo in turn ls integrated MO CAD/ CAM soflware for implant and prosthesis desm and fabrication. Several case studies are presented.