The 3D-printed miniplate-jig system: a new, rapid, precise, and user-friendly approach to miniplate fixation of free-tissue mandibular reconstructions

Patient-specific, additively manufactured (printed) titanium reconstruction plates have been widely used to improve accuracy and efficiency of fibular flap reconstruction of the mandible. Miniplates possess some potential advantages over single-piece reconstruction plates, however multiple-miniplate fixation can be more technically demanding and may lengthen the duration of surgery. Furthermore, incremental angulation errors in screw placement for each miniplate could compromise overall dimensional accuracy of the neomandibular reconstruction. This preliminary article reports the first clinical use of a new patient-specific, printed titanium miniplate-jig system in a patient undergoing hemimandibulectomy for osteoradionecrosis of the mandible with fibular flap reconstruction. Our initial experience with the new device and technique demonstrates a quick, user friendly, and precise method for the placement and fixation of multiple miniplates in fibular-flap reconstruction of the mandible.