Rapid-printed Three-dimensional Models for Craniomaxillofacial Trauma - Letter to the editor - response

Sep 29, 2026

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Letter to the editor responding to a published article on rapid-printed three-dimensional models for craniomaxillofacial trauma. The authors discuss how reducing printing variables can substantially cut model-preparation time while maintaining sufficient quality for preoperative osteosynthesis plate planning. Key concerns are raised about trade-offs, especially the clinical impact of reduced resolution, potential long-term effects on surgical precision and outcomes, and whether findings generalize beyond two studied fracture locations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

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Letter to the editor

Response to the original study

Concerns about resolution and clinical usefulness

Directions for future research

Disclosure and acknowledgment

Letter to the editor Rapid-printed Three-dimensional Models for Craniomaxillofacial Trauma Hinpetch Daungsupawong, PhD*; Viroj Wiwanitkit, MD† Dear Editor, This is a response to a published article,“Rapid-printed Three-dimensional Models for Craniomaxillofacial Trauma.1” This study solves a critical challenge in 3-dimensional (3D) printing for medical applications by minimizing the variables that influence printing time while preserving adequate model quality to preengineer the osteosynthesis plate. The authors reduced the printing time for a mandibular and middle jaw fracture model from nearly 7 hours to just 1 hour by optimizing the resolution and print orientation and reducing the region of concern, all while maintaining the fit of the available osteosynthesis plate. It was shown that the procedure time may be greatly reduced to less than an hour; this optimization method results in more efficient patient-specific surgical models, which is critical for clinical practice. Although the time efficiency increases are noteworthy, the trade-offs between print quality and time in this study have not been thoroughly studied, particularly how these enhanced models affect surgical precision and results. One critical problem that requires additional consideration is the effect of the reduced resolution on the model’s clinical usefulness. Although this study found only minor changes in plate-to-model spacing (0.22 and 0.34 mm for the mandible and maxilla, respectively), these variances may nonetheless have clinical relevance. Minor plate misalignment, for example, can cause intraoperative difficulties and negative postoperative outcomes. It is critical to investigate if these little alterations have long-term implications for surgical precision, therapy, and complications, particularly when the fracture is complex. Furthermore, although this study only looked at 2 locations (the maxilla and mandible), it does not discuss how these findings extend to other fracture types or more complex anatomy. Future research could examine whether optimizing additional printing parameters beyond resolution, orientation, and cropping could significantly reduce printing From the *Private Academic Consultant, Phonhong, Laos; and †Department of Community Medicine, D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, Maharashtra, India. Copyright © 2026 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 2026;14:e7381; doi: 10.1097/ GOX.0000000000007381; Published online 5 January 2026. time while maintaining model accuracy. For example, evaluating different 3D printing materials (eg, resins with different mechanical properties) could allow faster printing without compromising the structural integrity required for surgical planning. Furthermore, it would be important to consider whether time-saving techniques could be applied to different types of facial fractures, or whether specific fracture models for different anatomical regions need to be developed. The incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning may be a potential avenue. By predicting the most time-saving printing settings based on fracture type, model complexity, and desired resolution, AI systems could further simplify the optimization process. Additionally, investigating hybrid 3D printing methods that blend traditional manufacturing with rapid prototyping may enhance the accuracy and speed of surgical models. In addition to increasing the effectiveness of preoperative planning, these developments aid in the creation of implants and devices tailored to each patien

FAQs

What optimization strategy did the original study use to reduce 3D printing time?

It minimized variables that influence printing time while preserving adequate model quality for osteosynthesis plate preplanning, including optimizing resolution and print orientation and reducing the region of concern.

What clinical concern does this letter raise regarding reduced printing resolution?

It questions whether lower resolution affects the model’s clinical usefulness, noting minor plate-to-model spacing changes that could still matter for surgical precision, especially in complex fractures.

What future research directions are suggested to improve speed and accuracy?

Further work is proposed on additional printing parameters, comparing different 3D printing materials, evaluating time-saving approaches across fracture types, and exploring AI/machine learning and hybrid 3D printing methods.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by OmBimo