Success by mathematics. Already since the early 90’s, computer scientists
have dealt with computer assisted 3D planning of cranio-maxillo-facial operations
on the basis of CT data (see [21] and references therein). Meanwhile
mathematics, too, plays a crucial role in the planning of highly complex operations.
Its most important tools appeared to be virtual labs for therapy and operation
planning [2]; this term describes extensive software environments (such
12
Figure 9: Comparisons of two patients: before operation, after operation, overlays
with predictions [22].
as, e.g., AmiraTM[19]), within which patient specific geometric models are integrated
with partial differential equations for elastomechanics, fluid dynamics, or
diffusion as well as with fast algorithms for their numerical solution and visualization.
Today, before the surgeon performs his first cut, reliable predictions
about the postoperative appearance can be made. For the purpose of illustration,
Figure 8 shows a series of patients whose operation planning has been done
in cooperation of clinics and ZIB. In Figure 9, a comparison of the computed
predictions and the actual outcome of two operations is given [21].