Titanium Three-Dimensional Printed Cranioplasty for Fronto-Nasal Bone Defect

Abstract

Objective: 

To analyze the characteristics and outcome of patients who underwent the insertion of a 3-dimensional (3D) printed titanium (Materialise) cranioplasty.

Methods: 

Surgical and clinical data of patients who underwent 3D printed titanium cranioplasty insertion at our institution were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: 

A retrospective search identified 19 cases of titanium cranioplasty insertion between 2012 and 2018. 12 patients were male (63.2%) and mean age at cranioplasty was 47.4 ± 11.3 years. 9 patients had the cranioplasty inserted during the very same procedure of the craniectomy and 10 at a separate surgical stage from the craniectomy. Median delay from the craniectomy until the prosthesis insertion was 0.6 years, interquartile range (IQR) [0.4, 0.9]. Side of cranioplasty insertion was right in 6 cases and in the midline frontal in 9. Median surface of the implant was 68.1 cm², IQR [53, 125.4]. Median follow-up since the cranioplasty insertion was 1.2 year, IQR [0.4, 2.1]. At data collection, 1 patient was lost to follow-up, 1 had its cranioplasty taken out but, none was reported dead. 6 patients (31.6%) experienced early post-operative complications following the cranioplasty insertion. One patient had its cranioplasty removed 2.5 years after the insertion for tumoral recurrence (hemagiopericytoma) and skin necrosis leading to the plate exposure.

Conclusion: 

3D printed titanium cranioplasty are useful for complex craniofacial reconstruction regardless the etiology of the skull defect. This device is not associated with a higher rate of complication.