Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How 3D Models Help Plan Facial Bone Surgery Outcomes
By Picard MC et al.·2026·Université Grenoble Alpes, France·View original on Europe PMC →
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Original publication title: A Clinically Compatible Method for Generating Preoperative Finite Element Models to Simulate Facial Appearance and Movements in Orthognathic Surgery.
Plain-English summary
This study introduces a new way to create detailed 3D models of a person's face that can help doctors predict how facial surgery will affect both appearance and function. The method uses a combination of the patient's bone structure and soft tissues, like skin and muscles, to create a model that closely matches their unique anatomy. By simply marking 34 specific points on the patient's face, the rest of the model can be generated automatically from CT scans. The researchers tested this approach using computer simulations to see how the face would respond to surgery and muscle movements. Overall, this method shows promise for improving surgical planning in facial procedures.
Abstract
This study proposes an innovative method for generating patient-specific 3D models of the facial soft tissue, which can be integrated into clinical routine to predict the consequences of orthognathic surgery. This surgery, which impacts both facial aesthetics and functionality, requires precise tools tailored to each patient. To this end, a 3D face model has been developed, integrating anatomically precise bone structures (mandible and maxilla) and soft tissues (skin, fat, and muscles). This reference model is then fitted to each patient's anatomy using a nearly automatic method. This process requires only a manual selection of 34 landmarks to be performed in the clinical setting. The remainder of the patient-specific 3D model generation is fully automated from the patient's CT imaging data. Finally, a proof of concept is presented, featuring Finite Element simulations performed with Ansys APDL software, including orthognathic surgery and then muscle contractions applied to a patient-specific 3D model generated by the nearly automatic method.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Europe PMC: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/41641463