Benefits of stereolithography in orbital reconstruction

Objective: To describe the benefits of the stereolithography (SLA) modeling system in the evaluation and surgical planning of selected bony orbital pa thology. Design: Two case reports. Participants: One patient presented with a displaced left orbital roof frac ture into his orbit causing globe compression and binocular vertical diplop ia. A second patient underwent removal of his right orbital floor, medial w all, and inferior portion of his lateral wall during excision of a cylindri cal cell papilloma of the paranasal sinuses. Postoperatively, he suffered f rom globe ptosis and binocular oblique diplopia, Intervention: Stereolithographic models of the patients' orbits were obtain ed from computed tomography data to better assess the bony orbital patholog y. In the second patient, the model was used as a template to create a temp orary custom fit prosthesis to repair the defect of his orbital walls. Results: The SLA models were useful in evaluating the dimensions of the bon y defects and in preoperative surgical planning. Intraoperatively, the SLA models facilitated orbital surgical rehabilitation. Postoperatively, both p atients noted resolution of their diplopia after reconstruction of more nor mal bony anatomy. Conclusions: In selected cases, SLA offers highly accurate models of the bo ny orbit for preoperative evaluation, surgical planning, and teaching and c an act as a template for custom prosthesis manufacturing, This technology i ncreases the orbital surgeon's options in managing complex orbital patholog y.