Abstract
Craniosynostosis (CS) is the second most prevalent craniofacial congenital malformation due to the premature fusion of skull sutures. CS care requires surgical treatment of variable complexity, aimed at resolving functional and cosmetic defects resulting from the skull growth constrain. Despite significant innovation in the management of CS, morbidity and mortality still exist. Residual cranial defects represent a potential complication and needdedicated management to drive a targeted bone regeneration while modulating suture ossification. To this aim, existing techniques are rapidly evolving and include the implementation of novel biomaterials, 3D printing and additive manufacturing techniques, and advanced therapies based on tissue engineering. This review aims at providing an exhaustive and up-to-date overview of the strategies in use to correct these congenital defects, focusing on the technological advances in the fields of biomaterials and tissue engineering implemented in pediatric surgical skull reconstruction, i.e., biodegradable bone fixation systems, biomimetic scaffolds, drug delivery systems, and cell-based approaches.
Highlights
Craniosynostosis (CS) as a group of disorders represents the second most prevalent congenital craniofacial malformation in humans, as it occurs in 1 out of about 2000 live births [1]
The present review is aimed at providing an exhaustive overview of the current strategies in use to correct these congenital defects, focusing on the technological advances in the fields of biomaterials and tissue engineering implemented in pediatric surgical skull reconstruction
Similar conclusions were reported by Bekisz and coworkers [122], who tested the same scaffold in sheep calvarial defects, and observed no exuberant or ectopic bone formation, and no histologic evidence of inflammation within the defects, and higher osteogenesis in vivo
Summary
Craniosynostosis (CS) as a group of disorders represents the second most prevalent congenital craniofacial malformation in humans (after cleft/lip palate), as it occurs in 1 out of about 2000 live births [1]. Craniosynostoses represent complex surgical challenges, as they require a multidisciplinary care and the need to cope with constitutive alteration of cell developmental programs due to underlying germline genetic mutations. This complexity often causes the inadequacy, the increased invasiveness and the related morbidity of existing reconstructive approaches [2]. For this reason, extensive research efforts are in progress to design personalized strategies in CS treatments, implementing the development of novel biomaterials and production pipelines for bone tissue engineering. A lot of attention is dedicated to biodegradable bone fixation systems, biomimetic scaffolds, drug delivery systems, and cell-based approaches
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