Virtual Surgery and 3D Printing in Craniofacial Surgery – Our Experience at UHC Osijek Using a Newly Developed Add-On for “Open-Source” 3D Modeling Software

With the advancement of medical technologies, especially imaging technologies, and the further advancement of computer systems, advanced visualization techniques, including 3D printing and virtual or mixed reality is the logical next step in medical imaging of pathology. Their implementation enables clinicians more personalized approach to patient treatment. Therefore, the production of personalized surgical guides is becoming a standard. Since the “in-house” development of the Add-On FFF Gen for open-source CAD software Blender at the end of 2019, from 2020 until now, 11 patients underwent the successful surgery of the mandible reconstruction with “free fibula flap” using 3D printed personalized surgical guides. An increase in the number of cases treated in such a way, and good postoperative results only confirm the advantages of the application of these methods in everyday clinical work.