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Fully Digital Workflow for Fabrication of A 3D Printed Ear Stent for Auricular Keloids: A Technique Article

Now online in the Journal of Prosthodontics, a technique report co-authored by ACP members Drs. Amir Nejat, Isaias Abrego, and Roger Vitter.

This report describes a fully digital workflow to fabricate an ear stent after intralesional excision and skin autografting of an extensive recurrence of a keloid lesion of the ear.

A 30-year-old female patient presented with a large recurrent keloid of her left ear. One approach to treatment after surgical removal is the use of a passive stent that provides no space for the keloid to regrow and provides internal compression rather than external compression.

Due to the recurrent nature of the lesion in this patient, it was decided to fabricate a custom-made appliance to place pressure on the surgical site postoperatively.

An intraoral scanner was used for digital impression making. The stent was designed using CAD-CAM software and the 2-piece appliance was then 3D printed.

Some limitations of the technique include the need for a scanner capable of capturing soft tissue of ear, accessibility to CAD software to design the appliance and the designing skills required to use the software, and availability of a 3D printer with biocompatible resin to print the designed appliance.

Nejat AH, Hamdan S, Abrego I, et al. Fully digital workflow for fabrication of a 3d printed ear stent for auricular keloids: a technique article. J Prosthodont. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopr.13455

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