Abstract
In this publication, the interactive planning and reconstruction of cranial 3D Implants under the medical prototyping platform MeVisLab as alternative to commercial planning software is introduced. In doing so, a MeVisLab prototype consisting of a customized data-flow network and an own C++ module was set up. As a result, the Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software prototype guides a user through the whole workflow to generate an implant. Therefore, the workflow begins with loading and mirroring the patients head for an initial curvature of the implant. Then, the user can perform an additional Laplacian smoothing, followed by a Delaunay triangulation. The result is an aesthetic looking and well-fitting 3D implant, which can be stored in a CAD file format, e.g. STereoLithography (STL), for 3D printing. The 3D printed implant can finally be used for an in-depth pre-surgical evaluation or even as a real implant for the patient. In a nutshell, our research and development shows that a customized MeVisLab software prototype can be used as an alternative to complex commercial planning software, which may also not be available in every clinic. Finally, not to conform ourselves directly to available commercial software and look for other options that might improve the workflow.
Highlights
Cranioplasty, were a defect or deformity of the cranial bone is repaired [1], is often performed because of traumas, infections, tumors or compressions due to brain edema [2]
The unsmoothed implant is shown in the lower left image and a wellfitting and aesthetic looking result after additional Laplacian smoothing is shown in the lower right image
The overall planning starts with loading the STL file into our software
Summary
Cranioplasty, were a defect or deformity of the cranial bone is repaired [1], is often performed because of traumas, infections, tumors or compressions due to brain edema [2]. Even though the method is relatively safe, global intracerebral infarction can cause lethal results [3]. It is possible, that further complications occur resulting in a loss of the cranial implant. Brommeland et al [4] for example, showed that out of 87 patients, 37 (36%) suffered from complications, whereby even 22 lost their primary implant. The most common causes were surgical site infections, affecting eight patients (9.2%) and bone flap resorption in fourteen patients (19.7%). There is a broad range on different used materials to close the defect, like acrylic [5] as PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0172694 March 6, 2017
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