The Use of Prefabricated 3D Printed PEEK Implants for Repair of Skull Defects

AMR MOHSEN, M.D.; MOHAMED GABR, M.D.
2022 The Medical journal of Cairo University  
Skull defects may occur following trauma, infection, tumor invasion and neurosurgical procedures like decompressive craniectomy. Large defects should be reconstructed for brain protection and normalization of cerebral hemodynamics. Aim of Study: To evaluate the use of prefabricated customized 3D printed implants for cranioplasty of skull defects >4cm in diameter. Patients and Methods: The study included 20 patients with skull defects >4cm in diameter operated upon by cranioplasty using
more » ... ated 3D printed PEEK implants in the period from March 2017 to April 2018. Patients were assessed for cosmetic results, cost, operative time and complications. Pre and post-operative CT scans with 3D reconstruction were performed in all patients. Patients were followed-up clinically and radiologically for 6 months following surgery. Results: The study included 15 males and 5 females with an average age of 39.4 years. The cause of skull defect was trauma in 9, tumor invasion in 7, decompressive hemicraniectomy in 2 and infection in 2 patients. The average defect size was 7.6cm in diameter. Good cosmetic results were achieved in all patients. No complications were encountered except for superficial wound infection in 1 patient and small extradural hematoma in another patient. Conclusion: Use of 3D printed implants for cranioplasty provides excellent cosmetic results with less operative time, blood loss and complications when compared to conventional methods but at a higher cost.
doi:10.21608/mjcu.2022.234984 fatcat:ltzttf2yojgt5es43d6y5appea