Virtual surgical planning has revolutionized the field of jaw reconstruction, but its accessibility and effectiveness in Australia are under scrutiny. The article highlights the benefits of VSP, such as improved precision, collaboration, and reproducibility in complex reconstructive surgeries. However, it also points out several challenges and potential risks. The author emphasizes the need for better data and evidence to justify the cost and effectiveness of VSP, especially in the context of Australian healthcare. The article calls for a coordinated effort to capture operative duration, complication rates, and true whole-of-episode costs, and to support Australian centers developing in-house CAD/CAM capability. The author argues that restricting access to VSP without sufficient evidence could lead to worse outcomes for patients and a setback in the progress made in reconstructive surgery. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of evidence-based decision-making in healthcare and the need to prioritize patient outcomes over cost considerations.
