Abstract: Objective To evaluate the effects of the three-dimensional (3D) CT-based rapid prototyping technique on clinical mandibular reconstruction.Methods Seven patients suffering from mandibular lesion were selected,and surgery was designed preoperatively on the 3-D model which was created by using the rapid prototyping technique and based on the 3-D CT scanning data.Guided by the preoperative design,the mandibular lesion was excised and the following bone defect was immediately reconstructed with a vascularized iliac osteomyocutaneous flap or a vascularized fibular flap,or just a simple reconstructive titanium plate.The patients were then followed up regularly.Results The mandibular defect was reconstructed with the vascularized iliac flap in three patients,with the vascularized fibular flap in three patients and with a simple titanium plate in one patient.The patients had been followed up for 6-24 months.The contour of the reconstructed mandible was symmetrical in all patients.No malocclusion or limitation of mouth opening was found.The postoperative functions of mastication and speech were satisfactory in all patients.Conclusions Reconstruction of mandibular defect can benefit from the application of the 3D CT-based rapid prototyping technique.

Key words: mandibular bones, three-dimensional CT, rapid prototyping, reconstruction