Incorporation of a vacuum-formed polyvinyl chloride sheet into an orbital prosthesis pattern.

Pattern formation is the most difficult and demanding step in the fabrication of a facial prosthesis. Traditionally, the pattern fabrication of an orbital prosthesis begins with the adaptation of softened base plate wax on the cast, over which the entire pattern is fabricated. However, owing to the inherent properties of wax, such as distortion and stress relaxation, incorporating discrepancies in the pattern adaptation is likely. This article describes a vacuum-formed polyvinyl chloride sheet to fabricate a durable, distortion-free base for pattern fabrication, thereby overcoming the drawbacks associated with a wax base.