Ms Nicole Alexander¹, Ms Meleita Finnigan¹, Dr William Alexander¹

¹The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia

Abstract:

Facial burn scar management is both functionally and aesthetically important and is challenging due to the many contours of the face. At The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, the fabrication of transparent face orthoses (TFOs) usually involves taking an impression in theatre under general anaesthetic (GA) as younger children may be unlikely to tolerate facial casting without sedation. An increase in the presentation of deep dermal and full thickness facial burns in 2020 prompted our surgical and multidisciplinary team to look at alternative methods of fabrication of TFOs. Our aim was to investigate if we could reduced the need for GA and use of surgical theatre time (particularly in the subacute phase where the patients were no longer undergoing surgical procedures) and to improve the time from injury to TFO fabrication with 3D photography available prior to facial wounds and grafts being robust enough for moulding. Two methods of using 3D photography to a) 3D print negative facial models for positive plaster cast and b) 3D printing TFOs directly have been explored. Our experiences, outcomes and future directions will be shared.

Biography:

Nicole Alexander is a physiotherapist at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne working in the areas of Burns, Trauma and Plastic Surgery.