Synthesis of CAD/CAM, robotics and biomaterial implant fabrication: single-step reconstruction in computer-aided...

The preoperative manufacturing of individual skull implants, developed by an interdisciplinary research group at Ruhr-University Bochum, is based on the use of titanium as the most common material for implants at present. Using the existing technology for materials that can be milled or moulded, customized implants may be manufactured as well. The goal of the study was to examine biodegradable materials and to evaluate the practicability of intraoperative instrument navigation and robotics. Data acquisition of an adult sheep's head was performed with helical computer tomography (CT). The data were transferred onto a computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing system (CAD/CAM system), and two complex defects in the frontotemporal skull were designed. Standard individual titanium implants were milled for both of the defects. Additionally, for one of the defects a resection template, as well as a mould for the biodegradable poly(D,L-lactide) (PDLLA) implant, were fabricated by the CAD/CAM system. A surgeon carried out the first bone resection (#1) for the prefabricated titanium implant using the resection template and an oscillating saw. The robot system Stäubli RX90CR, modified for clinical use, carried out the other resection (#2). Both titanium implants and the PDLLA implant were inserted in their respective defects to compare the precision of their fit. A critical comparison of both implant materials and both resection types shows that fabrication of a PDLLA implant and robot resection are already possible. At present, the titanium implant and resection using a template are more convincing due to the higher precision and practicability.