Establishing cephalometric landmarks for the translational study of le fort-based facial transplantation in swine: Enhanced applications using computer-assisted surgery and custom cutting guides

Gabriel F. Santiago, Srinivas M. Susarla, Mohammed Al Rakan, Devin Coon, Erin M. Rada, Karim A. Sarhane, Jamie T. Shores, Steven C. Bonawitz, Damon Cooney, Justin Sacks, Ryan J. Murphy, Elliot K. Fishman, Gerald Brandacher, W. P.Andrew Lee, Peter Liacouras, Gerald Grant, Mehran Armand, Chad R. Gordon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Le Fort-based, maxillofacial allotransplantation is a reconstructive alternative gaining clinical acceptance. However, the vast majority of single-jaw transplant recipients demonstrate less-than-ideal skeletal and dental relationships, with suboptimal aesthetic harmony. The purpose of this study was to investigate reproducible cephalometric landmarks in a large-animal model, where refinement of computer-assisted planning, intraoperative navigational guidance, translational bone osteotomies, and comparative surgical techniques could be performed. METHODS: Cephalometric landmarks that could be translated into the human craniomaxillofacial skeleton, and that would remain reliable following maxillofacial osteotomies with midfacial alloflap inset, were sought on six miniature swine. Le Fort I- and Le Fort III-based alloflaps were harvested in swine with osteotomies, and all alloflaps were either autoreplanted or transplanted. Cephalometric analyses were performed on lateral cephalograms preoperatively and postoperatively. Critical cephalometric data sets were identified with the assistance of surgical planning and virtual prediction software and evaluated for reliability and translational predictability. RESULTS: Several pertinent landmarks and human analogues were identified, including pronasale, zygion, parietale, gonion, gnathion, lower incisor base, and alveolare. Parietale-pronasale-alveolare and parietale-pronasale-lower incisor base were found to be reliable correlates of sellion-nasion-A point angle and sellion-nasion-B point angle measurements in humans, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There is a set of reliable cephalometric landmarks and measurement angles pertinent for use within a translational large-animal model. These craniomaxillofacial landmarks will enable development of novel navigational software technology, improve cutting guide designs, and facilitate exploration of new avenues for investigation and collaboration.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1138-1151
Number of pages14
JournalPlastic and reconstructive surgery
Volume133
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery

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