Integration of telemedicine and artificial intelligence in the use of 3D printing in facial reconstruction

Facial reconstruction addresses congenital malformations and trauma through functional and aesthetic repair, but faces limitations due to the dependence on surgical skills. The integration of telemedicine, artificial intelligence (AI) and 3D printing have emerged as a solution to improve the accuracy and accessibility of treatments; the objective was to demonstrate the benefits of telemedicine and artificial intelligence in the use of 3D printing in facial reconstructions. A literary review was carried out using the PRISMA method, analyzing 20 studies from Scielo, Elsevier, PubMed, REDALYC and ERIC and taking into account the inclusion criteria: 1) Research period between 2020 and 2024 2) Textual studies 3) Review articles 4) Spanish, English and Portuguese language 5) Free open access articles, demonstrating that these technologies increase the quality of treatment in functional and aesthetic results. The findings were a decrease in hospital admissions (12.5%) and medical costs (5.3%), accuracy in facial reconstructions (90% sensitivity) and economic benefits with 26% returns on technological investment (4-6). It is concluded that there is an improvement in functional and aesthetic results in facial reconstruction and that it also transforms the accessibility and efficiency of the health system. However, the adoption of these technologies faces challenges such as limited access to resources and the need for more precise algorithms.