Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP) in Orthognathic Surgery for Non-Syndromic Cleft Patients: A Scoping Review of Trends and Clinical Outcomes

TL;DR

This review examines how virtual surgical planning improves orthognathic surgery for cleft patients, finding it boosts accuracy and outcomes but lacks strong scientific evidence.

Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive scoping review of VSP in orthognathic surgery for non-syndromic cleft patients, highlighting current trends and research gaps.

Findings

VSP improves translational and rotational accuracy in orthognathic procedures.

Bimaxillary procedures lead to better functional and aesthetic outcomes in severe maxillary hypoplasia.

Most studies on VSP are of lower quality, with no randomized controlled trials identified.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Isolated cleft lips and/or palates often require orthognathic treatment. Traditional planning based on 2D images and plaster models limits precision; therefore, virtual surgical planning (VSP) and Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technologies are increasingly being used. The aim of this scoping review was to analyze the techniques, outcomes, and gaps in research on VSP in orthognathics for patients with isolated (non-syndromic) clefts. Methods: Searches were conducted in July 2025 in seven databases (including PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane) without language restrictions, in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews. Of the 2836 records, 36 publications were eligible after deduplication and full-text screening, and their Level of Evidence (LoE) was assessed using the Oxford CEBM scale. A risk of bias assessment was also conducted according to JBI tools. Results: The identified studies primarily comprised LoE III and IV; there were no systematic reviews or randomized controlled trials (LoE I). Descriptions of bimaxillary procedures and LeFort I osteotomies dominated. The most commonly used software was ProPlan CMF, Dolphin 3D, and Rhinoceros, although other tools have emerged in recent years. The available studies suggest that VSP increases translational and rotational accuracy and facilitates individualized treatment, and bimaxillary procedures bring better functional and aesthetic outcomes in patients with severe maxillary hypoplasia. Conclusions: Despite the growing interest in VSP in orthognathics, the scientific evidence is limited and mostly of lower quality. Well-designed prospective studies are needed to assess the long-term stability, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness of modern technologies.

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