Abstract
Introduction and aims
To investigate whether generatively designed (GD) patient-specific implants are equivalent to manually designed (MD) PSIs for orthognathic surgery in the in silico setting.Methods
Twelve pairs of GD and MD fixation plates for Le Fort I osteotomy and genioplasty were compared regarding plate-bone shape fit, biomechanical performance, plate size, and design time. Shape fit was measured as the signed distance from the plate vertices to the underlying bone surface to estimate potential surgical accuracy. Biomechanical performance (von Mises stress and deformation) was analysed using finite element analysis. Plate size was quantified by both surface area and volume. Hands-on design time was recorded for GD by stage, and historical data on MD time were referenced for context.Results
GD plates demonstrated better shape fit, with a lower mean plate-bone distance (0.95 ± 0.17 mm) than MD plates (1.12 ± 0.28 mm; P Conclusions
GD fixation plates demonstrated improved shape fit, adequate mechanical strength, smaller size, and reduced design time compared with MD plates.Clinical relevance
The objective analysis of GD fixation plates in silico is important for justifying further application in clinical trials.