World neurosurgery, cilt.182, ss.100-104, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)
-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.