Cranioplasty is an important means of repairing skull defects. With its unique advantages, 3D printed PEEK cranial mesh implants have brought a brand new solution to skull repair.

 

Example of cranioplasty-53: 3D printing PEEK cranial mesh implant

 

preface
 

In the field of neurosurgery, cranioplasty is an important means of repairing skull defects. With the continuous advancement of medical technology, 3D printed PEEK cranial mesh implants bring a new solution to skull repair due to their unique advantages. The following is a typical case of a 3D printed PEEK cranial mesh implant for cranioplasty.

 

Basic condition of the patient
 

The patient, a 42-year-old male, suffered severe head injury due to a car accident, and during the emergency treatment, in order to relieve intracranial hypertension, a decompression of the bone flap was performed, leaving a left top skull defect with an area of about 10 cm × 12 cm. The patient recovered well after surgery, but the skull defect caused obvious deformity of the appearance of the head, and had a great impact on daily activities and psychological state, and there was a certain degree of anxiety, and he was eager to undergo cranial repair surgery.

 

Preoperative preparation
 

Imaging studies: A high-resolution CT scan of the head was performed on the patient preoperatively, and detailed 3D data of the skull defect area and its surrounding structures were obtained. Through medical image processing software, the CT data is reconstructed in 3D to clearly visualize the shape, size, and relationship of the skull defect to the surrounding tissue.

 

Implant design and printing: Based on the 3D reconstruction model, the medical team worked with 3D printing technology experts to design a personalized PEEK cranial network implant according to the anatomy of the patient's skull using professional design software. The implant not only highly matches the skull defect area in shape and size, but also fully considers the mechanical properties and physiological functional needs of the skull. Subsequently, state-of-the-art 3D printing technology was used to accurately print the PEEK material into the design model to create a cranial network implant. After printing, the implant is subjected to strict quality inspection to ensure that its surface is smooth, structurally intact and free of any defects.

 

Surgical plan formulation: The neurosurgery team organized a multidisciplinary consultation and formulated a detailed surgical plan based on the specific situation of the patient. The steps of the operation, the key technical points, and the possible risks and countermeasures are clarified. At the same time, the patient's and their families were introduced in detail about the procedure, expected results and potential risks, and their understanding and consent were obtained.

 

Surgical procedure
 

Anesthesia and Incision: After the patient enters the operating room, general anesthesia is administered. After the anesthesia is successful, the supine position is taken, and the towels are routinely disinfected and clothed. The skin and subcutaneous tissue are incised at the original surgical incision at the top of the left side, and separated layer by layer to the edge of the skull defect to fully expose the surgical area.

 

Implant placement: A 3D-printed PEEK cranial mesh implant is placed precisely at the site of the skull defect so that it fits snugly against the surrounding skull. Titanium nails and titanium connectors are used to fix the cranial mesh implant to the skull to ensure that the implant is stable and reliable. During fixation, the position and angle of the implant are carefully adjusted to ensure that it perfectly matches the anatomy of the skull.

 

Suturing and closing the incision: After checking that the implant is firmly fixed and in good position, the bleeding is completely stopped. The dura, gland, and skin are sutured sequentially to close the surgical incision. The operation went smoothly, the amount of intraoperative bleeding was small, and the patient's vital signs were stable.

 

Recovery after surgery

 

Vital signs monitoring: After surgery, the patient is admitted to the neurosurgical intensive care unit and closely monitored vital signs, including body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, respiration, etc. At the same time, the patient's state of consciousness, pupil changes and wound condition are observed, and possible complications are detected and treated in time.

 

Wound care: Keep the surgical incision clean and dry, and change the wound dressing regularly to prevent infection. Antibiotics are given to prevent infection, and the wound is closely observed for abnormalities such as redness, swelling, and oozing.

 

Rehabilitation training and psychological support: If the patient's physical condition allows, guide the patient to carry out appropriate rehabilitation training to promote the recovery of physical function. At the same time, we pay attention to the psychological state of the patients, provide psychological support and counseling, and help the patients overcome the psychological pressure caused by skull defects and surgery.

 

Review and evaluation: Repeat CT of the head at regular interoperative periods to observe the location of the implant and the healing of the surrounding tissues. A 3-month follow-up examination showed that the PEEK cranial mesh implant was well positioned, closely attached to the surrounding skull, the skull defect area had been basically repaired, and the patient's head appearance had returned to normal. The patient's daily life and work gradually returned to normal, and his anxiety was significantly reduced, and he was very satisfied with the results of the surgery.

 

Case Summary
 

In this case, the application of 3D printed PEEK cranial mesh implants in cranioplasty has achieved good results. 3D printing technology can customize highly personalized implants according to the individual differences of patients, realizing the precision and individualization of skull repair. PEEK material has good biocompatibility, mechanical properties and imaging properties, which can effectively avoid the problems of rejection and artifact interference that may occur in traditional implant materials, providing patients with a safer and more effective treatment option. This case provides a useful reference for the treatment of patients with similar skull defects, and demonstrates the broad application prospects of 3D printing technology and new implant materials in the field of neurosurgery.

 

Print effect display