Virtual Surgical Planning
VSP is used extensively in the management of maxillofacial pathology for its ability to virtually visualize pathology and to provide guidance on the location of resection margins. The application of guided osteotomies is most beneficial in surgical resections of the midface and for large tumors that have deformed anatomic landmarks. Characteristics of midface pathology include the difficulties in removing tumors within the maxillary sinus or nasal cavity, where osteotomies are often performed without direct visualization of the tumor. Surgical planning allows for such resections to be performed with greater confidence when visual cues are absent. Furthermore, the proximity to vital structures of the skull base can be accounted for and designed into the cutting guides to prevent inadvertent injury.