United States

New York University: Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery
Partnering with New York University (NYU), one of the leaders in cleft care, The Smile Train is funding The Smile Train Virtual Surgery Laboratory to develop interactive software that surgeons will use to learn, practice, and perfect techniques in cleft lip & palate repair. Along with Court Cutting, M.D., Director of The Smile Train Virtual Surgery Laboratory, experts from NYU are collaborating with leading animation experts to produce this interactive software. The software was developed using scans from the two children from China who traveled to New York in September 1999 for their cleft lip and palate repair. This innovative software with cutting-edge technology is intended to help measure the proficiency of surgeons, to accelerate the time it takes for a surgeon to become skilled at cleft surgery, and to provide surgeons with a fundamental understanding of how to help children born with clefts. The software formed the basis of three training videos in cleft lip and palate repair, Virtual Surgery Videos, which are offered free for cleft care providers. The next phase of the virtual surgery software involving a simulation program is currently being developed.

With the help of a Smile Train grant, NYU Institute is in the process of developing Phase III of the Virtual Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery Project. Using the latest animation and 3-dimensional techniques, a real-time virtual surgery environment will be created and can be controlled interactively by the user. A surgical path is then developed and placed in script form that can orchestrate each incision, flap movement and suture that the expert performed on the virtual patient. Through this, inexperienced surgeons worldwide will be able to interactively learn Cleft Lip and Palate reconstruction by simulating their own procedures and seeing the results. These virtual surgery videos will focus on handling failed cleft palate repairs done previously on the patient, secondary cleft lip and nose reconstruction and secondary skeletal correction. This educational tool will provide the opportunity for surgeons to network internationally and to locally hold workshops and training sessions which will result in more knowledgeable, competent surgeons who can help more children afflicted with Cleft Lip and Palate. With the enhancement of these secondary educational materials, this multimedia curriculum will remain the definitive source for cleft education worldwide. Phase III of the Virtual Surgery Project will be overseen and directed by Dr. Court Cutting and will be finished in approximately two years.

Barry Grayson, DDS
560 First Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-263-5206
Web site: http://www.med.nyu.edu/irps/