Three-dimensional finite element analysis of the mandible reconstruction with fibula / 华西口腔医学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To construct a three-dimensional finite element model of reconstructed mandible and analyze the stress distributions of the model.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>CT scan and CAD/CAM software was used to develop the three-dimensional finite element model of reconstructed mandible and stress analysis was performend with ANASYS 7.0 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The three-dimensional finite element models of normal mandible and reconstructed mandible were constructed. The stress analysis discovered an unbalanced stress distribution in the mandible.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Reconstructing mandible with fibular flap not only damages its structure, but also induced the badness of its biomechanical environment, in which condyle was the most sensitive region during the stresses in the mandible were changed.</p>