[The use of CAD/CAM techniques in the repair of complex orbital fractures and the reposition of enophthalmos].

OBJECTIVE: To reconstruct the three-dimensional (3 D) imaging and computer-generated models of the complex orbital fractures, and to develop a Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacture (CAD/CAM) system for orbital fracture repair. METHODS: We carried out study on 12 patients with orbital fractures from August 2003 to March 2004 in the Ninth People's Hospital. Before the orbital fracture repair, helical computer tomography scanning was applied to acquire the 3 D imaging data of the patient's orbits. The 3 D imaging data were then transferred to a CAD/CAM interactive program for image processing, which then designed and produced a stereolithography model mathematically. Using the designed software, the repair of orbital fractures could be planned with the computer. At the same time, the orbital cubane was calculated. Then the operation was performed and the effect of the therapy was evaluated. RESULTS: Using the CAD/CAM system of orbital fracture repair, the 3 D image of the orbit could be reconstructed, and the orbital cubane could be calculated accurately. The preoperative surgical plan was put into reality. After the orbital fracture repair, all cases received excellent appearance and function. This system had proved to run smoothly and accurately, and could easily be controlled. CONCLUSIONS: The CAD/CAM system of the orbital fracture repair may be proved as one of the most useful clinical tools for orbital surgery.