TUTORIAL
Virtual Planning for Mandibular Reconstruction Surgery with Mimics Enlight CMF
10 min
Video
Description
This tutorial walks you through the process of planning mandibular reconstruction surgery with Mimics Enlight CMF. Learn how to import images, segment the skull and leg, trace nerves, set the natural head position, perform osteotomies, and plan reconstruction using fibula segments. Follow this tutorial to master surgical planning techniques.
Instructions
Starting a case and preparing the anatomy
- Importing images
- Click on 'From Images' and locate the directory with the DICOM images of the skull and lower leg
- Select the images to see a preview of the series
- Click 'Open' to continue with the selected images
- Click on 'Reconstruction Planner' to start planning
- Indicate which scan belongs to which anatomy
- (Optional) Check DICOM information by right-clicking on the image series and selecting 'Image Information'
- Segmenting the skull
- Click on the skull option
- Adjust the threshold if necessary (default is set for bone tissue)
- Click 'Apply' to continue
- Use the Erase tool to remove any unwanted voxels in 2D or 3D
- Separate the mandible using the Split tool: first mark the skull in a few slices, then do the same with the mandible
- Click 'Finish' to generate the 3D skull and mandible models
- Segment the soft tissue
- Repeat the same segmentation steps for the soft tissue
- Use the Erase tool to remove unnecessary parts
- Segment the tibia and vessels
- Lower the threshold for better artery visibility
- Edit the segmentation if needed
- Use the Split tool to separate the fibula, tibia, and vessels
- Indicate if we are working with the left or right leg
(Optional) Identifying the nerves
- Place points on the mental foramen and mandibular foramen to re-slice the image
- Trace the nerve by placing points along the nerve canal
- Repeat for both sides
Setting the natural head position
- Indicate the Frankfurt horizontal plane:
- Place points in each ear canal
- Place points on the inferior border of each orbit
- Adjust the position of the skull in the three orthogonal views
Performing osteotomies
- Click 'Add cut' and indicate two points on the mandible to create an osteotomy plane, adjust the plane if needed, and repeat for the second cut
- Select 'Split' to perform the osteotomy and highlight the part to be removed
Planning the reconstruction
- Mirror the healthy side
- Hide the skull by going to the object list and clicking on the eye next to it
- Mirror the healthy side and hide the part of the mandible to be removed
- Create the fibula segments
- Click 'Create Segments' and place points to draw the segments
- Adjust their positioning to match the healthy anatomy; if needed, fine-tune how the segments are placed against each other in the fibula
Note: This workflow is for demonstration purposes. Always consult with a trained healthcare professional for actual surgical planning.
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