Application of digital modeling and three-dimensional printing of titanium mesh for reconstruction of thyroid cartilage in partial laryngectomy

Abstract

Background

Digital modeling and three-dimensional (3D) printing techniques have been used to assist the resection of the laryngeal lesions and repair the remnant larynx in glottic cancer patients with anterior commissure involvement.

Aims/objectives

To evaluate the feasibility of digital modeling and 3D printing of titanium mesh for thyroid cartilage reconstruction in partial laryngectomy, and compare the advantages and disadvantages with crico-hyoido-epiglottopexy (CHEP).

Material and methods

Forty-four glottic cancer patients with anterior commissure involvement were randomly assigned into group A and group B. The digital modeling and 3 D printing were used for patients in group A, and patients in group B underwent the modified CHEP.

Results

In group A, 10 patients underwent tracheotomy and tracheal tube was removed after 2 weeks. All the patients were discharged within 10 d after surgery, and the majority of them had a satisfactory level of pronunciation. In group B, the majority of the patients were discharged 2 − 3 weeks after surgery with a moderate level of pronunciation.

Conclusions and significance

The proposed surgical method, employing digital modeling and 3D printing to facilitate resection of laryngeal lesions and reconstruction of residual larynx, exhibited to be beneficial for accurate reconstruction of thyroid cartilage and soft tissues.

Chinese Abstract

背景：数字建模和三维 （3D）打印技术已被用于辅助前连合受累声门癌患者的喉部病变切除及残喉修复。

目的：评估在进行部分喉切除术时, 钛网数字建模和 3D 打印对甲状腺软骨重建的可行性, 并将其与环舌骨会厌固定术（CHEP）进行优缺点比较。

材料与方法：44 名前连合受累声门癌患者随机分为A组和B组。采用数字建模和3D打印的患者为A组, 接受改良CHEP的患者为B组。

结果：A组10例患者接受气管切开术并在两周后拔除气管插管。所有患者均在术后 10 天内出院, 其中大部分患者有满意的发音水平。 B组大部分患者术后2-3 周出院, 发音水平中等。

结论和意义：本文建议的手术方法, 采用数字建模和 3D打印来辅助喉部病变切除和残喉重建, 显示出对甲状腺软骨和软组织的准确重建的有利之处。

Keywords:

• Anterior commissure involvement
• glottic cancer
• digital modeling
• 3D printing
• personalized titanium mesh

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by National Cancer Center Climbing Foundation Of China (NVV2018B60), Changsha Science and Technology Bureau Project (KQ1801101), Hunan Provincial Health Commission Project (C2019078), Scientific Research Climbing Program of Hunan Cancer Hospital (2020IITB005), Hunan Clinical Research Center of Plastic Surgery for Cancer (2013TP4087).