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New Technologies for Personalized Medicine in Head and Neck Surgery

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Otolaryngology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 June 2026 | Viewed by 684

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Gregorio Marañón General University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
2. School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Interests: head and neck oncology; microsurgery; head and neck reconstruction; dental implants; free flaps; orthognathic surgery; dental implants in oncologic patients; surgical treatment of sleep apnea
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, University Hospital La Paz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28046 Madrid, Spain
Interests: oral and maxillofacial surgery; dental implants; orthognathic surgery; oral cancer; facial reconstruction; facial trauma; dental bone regeneration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advances in biomedical engineering and digital health technologies have transformed the field of head and neck surgery, fostering a new era of precision and personalized medicine. The integration of high-resolution imaging, artificial intelligence, computer-assisted design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM), 3D printing, surgical navigation and patient-specific biomaterials enables individualized diagnosis, planning and treatment. In head and neck surgery, these tools are increasingly applied to a broad spectrum of conditions, including craniofacial malformations, maxillofacial trauma, orthognathic deformities, temporomandibular joint disorders, benign and malignant tumors, reconstructive surgery and implant-based rehabilitation. Moreover, advances in genomics, proteomics and tissue engineering contribute to tailored therapeutic strategies, particularly in oncologic and regenerative applications. This Special Issue, “New Technologies for Personalized Medicine in Head and Neck Surgery,” welcomes original research, clinical studies and comprehensive reviews that explore emerging technologies, translational approaches and multidisciplinary collaborations bridging surgery, biomedical engineering and data science. By integrating technological innovation with clinical expertise, this issue aims to define the future paradigm of patient-specific care in head and neck surgery, enhancing precision, safety and functional as well as aesthetic outcomes.

Prof. Dr. Carlos Navarro-Cuéllar
Prof. Dr. José Luis Cebríán-Carretero
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • personalized medicine
  • head and neck surgery
  • 3D printing
  • surgical navigation
  • artificial intelligence
  • computer-assisted surgery
  • regenerative medicine
  • precision oncology
  • craniofacial reconstruction
  • biomaterials
  • virtual surgical planning
  • genomics and proteomics
  • tissue engineering
  • functional rehabilitation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 3080 KB  
Article
Beyond Accuracy: Perioperative Efficiency and Institutional Cost Implications of CAD/CAM-Guided Versus Conventional Freehand Fibula Free Flap Reconstruction for Mandibular and Maxillary Defects
by Borja González Moure, Saad Khayat, Diego Fernández Acosta, Ignacio Navarro Cuéllar, Cristina Maza Muela, Ana López López, Manuel Tousidonis Rial, Gema Arenas de Frutos, Carlos Martínez Martínez, Raúl Antúnez-Conde, Stefania Troise, Luigi Angelo Vaira, Giovanni Dell’Aversana Orabona, Santiago Ochandiano, Francisco Javier López de Atalaya, José Ignacio Salmerón and Carlos Navarro Cuéllar
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(5), 1778; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15051778 - 26 Feb 2026
Viewed by 411
Abstract
Background: Computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology has been increasingly adopted for mandibular and maxillary reconstruction using fibula free flaps. However, its clinical and economic advantages over the conventional freehand technique remain debated. The objective of this study was to compare perioperative outcomes [...] Read more.
Background: Computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology has been increasingly adopted for mandibular and maxillary reconstruction using fibula free flaps. However, its clinical and economic advantages over the conventional freehand technique remain debated. The objective of this study was to compare perioperative outcomes and institutional costs between CAD/CAM-guided and conventional freehand fibula flap reconstructions. Methods: An ambispective observational study was conducted including patients who underwent mandibular or maxillary reconstruction with an osteocutaneous free fibula flap between 2017 and 2024. Reconstructions were performed either using CAD/CAM-guided virtual surgical planning or the conventional freehand technique. Demographic data, perioperative variables, postoperative outcomes, oncologic margin status, transfusion requirements, and total institutional costs were analyzed. Univariate comparisons were performed between groups, and multivariate linear regression models were used to assess the independent association of CAD/CAM guidance with operative time and hospital length of stay. Results: Fifty-one patients were included (25 CAD/CAM-guided and 26 freehand). CAD/CAM-guided reconstruction was associated with a significantly shorter operative time (542.3 ± 65.8 vs. 604.9 ± 79.5 min; p = 0.0036) and a shorter overall hospital stay (19.6 ± 7.2 vs. 30.6 ± 26.2 days; p = 0.047) in univariate analysis. The need for perioperative blood transfusion was significantly lower in the CAD/CAM group. No significant differences were observed in ICU stay, flap failure, reintervention rate, or postoperative hemoglobin decrease. Although margin status did not differ significantly between groups, a higher proportion of negative margins was observed in the CAD/CAM cohort. In multivariate analysis adjusting for age and perioperative variables, CAD/CAM guidance remained independently associated with reduced operative time, but not with hospital length of stay. Despite higher upfront planning costs, total per-patient cost was lower in the CAD/CAM group due to improved perioperative efficiency. Conclusions: CAD/CAM-guided fibula free flap reconstruction is a safe and effective technique that is associated with reduced operative time and lower transfusion requirements while maintaining comparable oncologic outcomes. When perioperative efficiency gains are achieved, these advantages may offset the higher planning costs, resulting in overall cost savings at the institutional level. CAD/CAM-assisted reconstruction may therefore be particularly advantageous in high-volume oncologic centers and anatomically complex cases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Technologies for Personalized Medicine in Head and Neck Surgery)
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