Alloplastic cranial implants made from computed tomographic scan-generated casts

Abstract

The complexity of cranioplasty increases with increased defect size. It is difficult to produce a symmetric, accurate implant presurgically or at the time of surgery when the defect is greater than 50 cm 2. The procedure is also more difficult to perform when the defect is located in the temporal, infratemporal, or frontal areas. A new procedure generates a three-dimensional cast of the skull through computed tomography and computer-aided design reformation. This article describes the process of model generation and the production of a preprocessed cranial implant. To date, six cranial implants have been made with this technique. The whole head models are accurate and help the neurosurgeon-prosthodontist team in the creation of a symmetric, anatomically correct restoration. It is the technique of choice for large implants or where the cranial bones are thin. It is not necessary to augment or alter the implant during surgery. The technique reduces surgical time, and postsurgical complications have been minimal.