Orbital implant placement using a computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) stereolithographic surgical template protocol

Surgical implant placement in the orbital region for the support of a prosthesis is challenging due to the thin orbital rim and proximity to vital structures. This article reports the use of a computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) stereolithographic surgical template protocol for orbital implant placement in four patients, who were followed-up for about 7 years. A total of 11 orbital implants were inserted, eight of these in irradiated bone. No intraoperative complications were noted in any of the patients and the implants were all inserted in the planned positions. The survival rate of implants placed in irradiated bone that received hyperbaric oxygen therapy was 62.5% (5/8). One implant failed in a burns injury patient at 74 months after functional loading. The overall survival of implants in the orbital region and the cumulative survival at 7 years was 63.6%. With regard to skin reactions around the abutments, 85% were grade 0, 13% were grade 1, and 2% were grade 2 according to the Holgers classification. The mean survival time of the first prosthesis was 49 months. High patient satisfaction was achieved with the implant-retained orbital prostheses.