Digital technology in craniofacial surgery – Historical perspectives to current applications

Presurgical planning forms an important aspect of craniofacial surgery which involves repositioning and reconstruction of facial and skull bones. Digital technology is being increasingly used for planning surgical procedures. Virtual surgical planning, Computer-aided design and Computer-aided modeling greatly improve the speed, scope and accuracy of surgery thereby providing better patient outcomes and satisfaction. In cases of craniofacial anomalies, cutting and positioning guides can be fabricated. For orthognathic surgery, realistic predictions of outcomes can be provided, in addition to improved presurgical planning. In maxillofacial trauma, facial height, width and projection can be better restored. TMJ/Skull base resection and reconstruction can be performed as single-stage operation. Intraoperative and graft ischemic time is reduced during oncologic resection and reconstruction. Potential limitation is added cost but this is offset by benefits like significantly reduced operating time, better dental alignment and improved esthetic outcome. In this review we attempt to briefly describe the historical developments, detail the application and assess the impact of technology for surgical planning and outcome.