Application of 3D printing in Nagata auricle reconstruction

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of 3D digital printing in Nagata total auricle reconstruction.Methods A total of 30 patients with unilateral ear deformity who were admitted to Department of Plastic Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from June 2019 to July 2021 were selected. They were divided into two groups (n=15):an experimental group and a control group. In the experimental group, the 6th-8th costal cartilage was reconstructed using the 3D CT scanning data from the costal cartilage, simulating to carve the ear scaffold before surgery, as well as engraving and splicing of the costal cartilage scaffold guided by the 3D printing template. The control group underwent conventional three-dimensional CT scanning of costocartilage before surgery, and the operation was guided by the traditional film ear mold method. Both groups were compared for the duration of surgery using Nagata method. After surgery, surgeon's satisfaction was evaluated through the Likert scale. Six months after surgery, patient's satisfaction was assessed evaluated. The cranial ear angles on the healthy side and the affected side were measured immediately after surgery. Both groups were compared for the reconstructed cranial ear angle between the healthy side and the affected side.Results The experimental group showed significantly shorter operation time than the control group (P<0.05). The surgeons presented better satisfaction towards 3D ear mold than the film ear mold (P<0.05). Six months after operation, the experimental group showed better satisfaction towards the appearance of the reconstructed auride than the control group(P<0.05). Both groups presertcel satisfaction towards the function of the reconstracted auricle, withont statistical difference (P>0.05). For the experimental group, there was no statistical difference between the cranial ear angles at the healthy side (34.85±4.85)ånd those the affected side (34.94±4.73)° immediately after surgery (P>0.05).Conclusions 3D printing can be used for guiding the Nagata method during the reconstruction of the whole auricle, with the cranial ear horn is closer to the healthy side.