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Updated: Aug 4, 2026
3D Planning and Printing of Patient Specific Implants for Reconstruction of Bony Defects
Published on: August 4, 2020
Late Frontal Bone Reconstruction Using Three-Dimensional Printed Models for Titanium Mesh Customization: A Case
Mohamed Hazem Abdelazeem1, Reem Elwy2, Alistair Jenkins3
1Plastic Surgery Unit, Department of General Surgery, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Background:
The convex frontal bone is covered by thin skin, rendering its reconstruction cosmetically challenging. Customized alloplastic implants provide better contouring than autologous bone, yet their high cost and availability limit their application. We assess customized titanium mesh implants precontoured using patient-specific three-dimensional (3D) printed models for late frontal cranioplasty.
Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed the prospectively collected cases of unilateral frontal titanium mesh cranioplasty with 3D printing-assisted preplanning from 2017 to 2019. We used two 3D-printed patient-specific skull models for preoperative planning: a mirrored normal model for implant contouring and a defect model for edge trimming and fixation planning. The endoscope was used in 4 cases for percutaneous mesh fixation. We documented postoperative complications. We assessed the reconstruction symmetry clinically, and radiologically on postoperative computed tomography.
Results:
Fifteen patients were included. The duration after previous surgery ranged from 8 to 24 months. Four patients developed complications, which were managed conservatively. Favorable cosmetic outcomes were achieved in all patients.
Conclusions:
Precontouring of titanium mesh implants using in-house 3D-printed models could optimize cosmetic and surgical outcomes in late frontal cranioplasty. Preoperative planning could permit minimal access surgery, which could be aided by the endoscope in select cases.
