Reconstruction of cranioplasty using medpor porouspolyethylene implant

We describe our experience of cranioplasty after a calvarial defect, following an external decompressive craniectomy, with the Medpor^® (Stryker^®) porous polyethylene implant for cosmetic cranioplasty and reconstruction.

A retrospective chart review was performed on 23 consecutive patients who underwent cranioplasty at a single institution between January 2013 and January 2016: 9 patients after head injury and 14 patients after vascular event (ruptured aneurysm, intraprenchymal haematoma, malignant cerebrovascular accident). All patients with cranioplasties after oncological resection or infection were excluded. These cranioplasties were performed using porous polyethylene sheet (Medpor^®) and contoured with a burr or scissors in the sterile field, and fixed to the calvarial bone with screws.

Porous polyethylene sheet (Medpor^®) is a proven material used for cranial reconstruction in neurosurgery and maxillofacial surgery with a biocompatibility advantage. The implant can be directly used in an emergency context. The average operating time was 72minutes. An average delay of 527 days (1 year and 5months) with a median of 985 days (43; 4206) occurred between craniectomy and the cranioplasty. There was only one set back implant due to scalp necrosis with infection for a recovery-unit patient.

Porous polyethylene is an excellent restorative material for the reconstruction of large sized cranial defects and can be also used safely in reconstruction of the cranium. The cosmetic results are good, easy to perform, with a low complication rate.