Demonstration of cosmetic improvement after cranioplasty using a personalized 3D-printed mold for creating polymethylmethacrylate implants with a simplified process.

Çakın H., Yildirim Y., Ozsoy U.

World neurosurgery, vol.182, pp.100-104, 2024 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 182
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.11.076
  • Journal Name: World neurosurgery
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CAB Abstracts, Index Islamicus, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.100-104
  • Akdeniz University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

-BACKGROUND: Although personalized polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA) implantproductionmoldsfor cranioplastyarecostlyandtime-consuming, theyallowfor better-quality implants. The researchers quantitatively testedthecontributionof simplified, low-cost techniques tocosmeticimprovement.-METHODS:PMMAprosthesiswasplacedina25-yearoldmalepatientduetoosteolysisintheboneflapremoved after decompression surgery. A single-sidedmoldwas three-dimensional (3D)printedbeforethesurgery,andthe prosthesiswasproducedduring thesurgery. Inaddition, thechangeincranialasymmetrywasevaluatedusinga3D surfacescanneraftersurgery.-RESULTS: Themold took half an hour to design and 5hours toprint. Themoldcost about 2dollars. Theroot meanssquare(RMS)valuemeasuredtodeterminecranial asymmetry decreased from 5.4 mm to 2.8 mm postoperatively.Thepatientstatedthathewasprettysatisfied withthecosmeticresult.-CONCLUSIONS: Simple design techniques developed canoffer low-cost, fast-designalternativesolutionswith satisfactorycosmeticresultsforlow-incomecountriesand patients.