The "springform" technique in cranioplasty: custom made 3D-printed templates for intraoperative modelling of polymethylmethacrylate cranial implants.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Manual moulding of cranioplasty implants after craniectomy is feasible, but does not always yield satisfying cosmetic results. In contrast, 3D printing can provide precise templates for intraoperative moulding of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) implants in cranioplasty. Here, we present a novel and easily implementable 3D printing workflow to produce patient-specific, sterilisable templates for PMMA implant moulding in cranioplastic neurosurgery.

Methods

3D printable templates of patients with large skull defects before and after craniectomy were designed virtually from cranial CT scans. Both templates - a mould to reconstruct the outer skull shape and a ring representing the craniectomy defect margins - were printed on a desktop 3D printer with biocompatible photop

SUBMITTER: Poppe JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8913485 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature