Design and manufacturing of prosthesis of a jaw for a young patient with articular ankylosis

In this work, the design and manufacture of a new jaw prosthesis for a young patient with articular Ankylosis is reported. The required models were obtained with a Computed Axial Tomography (CAT) in conjunction with computed aided design (CAD) and engineering codes. Several tomography slices were taken in digital format (DICOM). Each slice was processed with Scan IP, CATIA and Solidworks. The main objective of this study is to show the digital and a physical processing for manufacturing the desired model, taking into account the anthropometry of the young patient, who expects to receive this fixation as a maxillary implant. The STL and FEM model allowed creating biomechanical prototypes in order to adjust the disorders that this young patient has suffered by three incorrect medical procedures. It will allow manufacture the final mold by using of a quick prototyping printer system (dust). This prosthesis will be created as an only piece, and the main body will be created by a strong, low weight and polymeric material Poly(methyl methacrylate)—(PMMA), while a low friction metal will be considered for the condylar joint. The expectation for this final implant requires the approval of the Specialty Hospital “La Raza” (IMSS) in order to be installed on the patient. For this purpose, biomechanical engineering procedure and 3D manufacturing quick prototyping was used for the prototype. The clinical case discussed in this paper is related to a 17-year-old individual. He was treated in the area of maxillofacial and plastic surgery. The severity of the deformation was based on congenital disease. Calcium hydroxyapatite, Poly(methyl Methacrylate) polymers and stainless steel, which are highly biocompatible materials, were used for this purpose. It is very important to mention that this procedure avoided the employment of bone tissue taken from the ribs and cranial regions as in other research publications referred. As a result of this research, a unique 3D personalized jaw model could be presented in order to be fixed in the patient.