Digital Workflow and 3D Printing of Palato-Lingual Plates for Robin Sequence: Current Concepts and Future Directions

Digital Workflow and 3D Printing of Palato-Lingual Plates for Robin Sequence: Current Concepts and Future Directions | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Digital Workflow and 3D Printing of Palato-Lingual Plates for Robin Sequence: Current Concepts and Future Directions Martin Čverha, Andrej Thurzo This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9387582/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 13 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Robin sequence (RS) is congenital craniofacial condition characterized by micrognathia, glossoptosis, and upper airway obstruction, frequently leading to life-threatening respiratory compromise and feeding difficulties in the neonatal period. Palato-lingual plates (PLPs) represent an effective non-invasive therapeutic approach that repositions the tongue anteriorly and obturates the cleft palate, thereby improving airway patency and feeding efficiency. However, conventional PLP fabrication relies on manual impressions and handcrafted acrylic processing, procedures that are laborious, time-consuming, and potentially hazardous in neonates. Recent advances in digital medicine have enabled a fully digital workflow for PLP production based on intraoral optical scanning, computer-aided design (CAD), and stereolithographic 3D printing. This review presents a comprehensive description of this digital workflow, including scan acquisition, digital model processing, CAD construction, and additive manufacturing of patient-specific devices. The digital process may allow precise control of device geometry, rapid production of design variants, and improved reproducibility compared with conventional fabrication techniques. Importantly, digital design also enables the development of next-generation PLP concepts that extend beyond traditional appliances. Through iterative digital modelling and additive manufacturing, recent developments illustrate the evolution of PLP design toward wire-free hybrid appliances that integrate characteristics of palato-lingual plates and airway stents, eliminating the need for extraoral wires. These flexible personalized devices may improve patient comfort, reduce wire-related complications, and facilitate breastfeeding. The integration of digital scanning, CAD design, and 3D printing represents not only a technological improvement in PLP fabrication but also a platform for conceptual innovation in the management of infants with Robin sequence. Robin sequence palato-lingual plate 3D printing digital workflow additive manufacturing computer-aided design Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 20 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 16 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 16 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 15 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 14 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 14 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 13 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 13 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 13 Apr, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 13 Apr, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 13 Apr, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 13 Apr, 2026 First submitted to journal 11 Apr, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9387582","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":625993326,"identity":"3f10af3b-4b14-4bed-b5a1-8e7398488eba","order_by":0,"name":"Martin Čverha","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA40lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYLCCBAjFxsBQAaQO8BDUwNiA0HKGWC0MMC2MbURo0W0/+/zBwx0M8gbHe589+DnvTmLf8bMHGD624dZidibdsCHxDIPhhjPHzQ17tz1LnHkmL4FxJj4tB9IYGxLbGBIkZ6SxSfBuO5y44QaPATMvPi3nn0G1zH/GJvl3DlTLX3xabkBt4ZdgY5PmbYBqYcSr5RnjjMQ2CcN+njQ2aZljh41nnskxONhzDp/D0hg+/myzkWdjP8Ym+abmsGzf8TOGD36U4dYCBRKo3AMENYyCUTAKRsEowAsAF1VU0KaVmxIAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"National Institute of Children's Diseases","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Martin","middleName":"","lastName":"Čverha","suffix":""},{"id":625993329,"identity":"dc97e636-37be-48ba-a436-520cbb611942","order_by":1,"name":"Andrej Thurzo","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Comenius University Bratislava","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Andrej","middleName":"","lastName":"Thurzo","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-04-11 11:53:17","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9387582/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9387582/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":107489462,"identity":"ed63e1f3-a9e1-482f-ada1-94bb96c0bf54","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-22 02:47:45","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1554243,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"DigitalDesignand3DPrintingofPalatoLingualPlatesforConservativeManagementofRobinSequence.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9387582/v1_covered_c3152130-3124-4166-a4d4-a48ee0ee437d.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Digital Workflow and 3D Printing of Palato-Lingual Plates for Robin Sequence: Current Concepts and Future Directions","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bratislava-medical-journal","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Bratislava Medical Journal](https://link.springer.com/journal/44411)","snPcode":"44411","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/44411/3","title":"Bratislava Medical Journal","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Robin sequence, palato-lingual plate, 3D printing, digital workflow, additive manufacturing, computer-aided design","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9387582/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9387582/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eRobin sequence (RS) is congenital craniofacial condition characterized by micrognathia, glossoptosis, and upper airway obstruction, frequently leading to life-threatening respiratory compromise and feeding difficulties in the neonatal period. 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