Contact Area Between 3D-Printed Silicone Implant and Nasal Bone as a Predictive Factor for Implant Deviation.

[BACKGROUND] Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is actively applied in rhinoplasty procedures. The use of 3D-printed silicone implants facilitates success in surgery, even when the surgeon lacks experience. However, in some cases, deviation or displacement of 3D-printed silicone implants can occur even without postoperative septal and tip deviation.

[OBJECTIVE] This study aimed to explore factors influencing the deviation of 3D-printed silicone implants.

[METHODS] We identified 293 patients (55 males, 238 females) who underwent rhinoplasty and retrospectively reviewed their operative records and facial computed tomography images. The incidence of deviation when using 3D-printed silicone implants was investigated. Various factors influencing the deviation of 3D-printed silicone implants were examined. The contact area was calculated using a 3D surface meshing approach.

[RESULTS] Deviation of 3D-printed silicone implants occurred in 23.55% of patients (females, 23.53%; males, 23.64%), with nine (3.07%) undergoing revision surgery due to complaints about postoperative nose deformity caused by this deviation. Among variables studied in the male and female groups, only the contact area between the nasal bone and 3D-printed silicone implant was a significant factor in determining deviation. The optimal cutoff values of the contact area in the male and female groups were 295.71 mm and 256.58 mm, respectively. The average cutoff values of the contact area differed between the no-deviation and deviation groups but were similar among the mild, moderate, and severe deviation groups.

[CONCLUSION] The contact area between the nasal bone and 3D-printed silicone implant is a predictive factor for implant deviation in rhinoplasty procedures using 3D-printed silicone implants.

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