Nonlinear Cutting Guides in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: A Technical Note

Preservation of bone and anatomic structures during oral and maxillofacial resections are common goals of using custom cutting guides. Nonlinear cutting guides may offer improved patient care over linear cutting guides by allowing for additional areas of fixation, additional support for bony reconstructions, expanded use of nonvascular reconstructions, improved identification and preservation of anatomy, and improved cosmesis. A retrospective case series of 7 patients was created through a chart review of all patients undergoing resections at Augusta University between July 1, 2020, and January 31, 2025, for the purpose of identifying any close or positive margins on final pathology. No close or positive margins were noted. The use of nonlinear cutting guides for resection of oral and maxillofacial pathologies requires careful consideration of resection margins, precision and accuracy of virtual surgical planning and manufacturing constraints, and surgeon comfort. It is reasonable to consider more widespread adoption within 5 years.