Customized Titanium Implants for Cranial Fibrous Dysplasia: A Personalized Surgical Approach and Single-Center...

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Craniofacial Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Cranial fibrous dysplasia (CFD) often requires surgical intervention for optimal treatment.
• Computer-assisted techniques and custom implants enhance surgical resection and reconstruction for CFD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the surgical treatment of CFD using preoperative computer-assisted planning.
• To evaluate the use of custom-made templates and titanium implants for reconstruction in CFD patients.

Main Methods:

• 33 patients with monostotic CFD underwent tumor resection and reconstruction with custom titanium implants over 12 years.
• Preoperative CT scans guided planning, and a computer-assisted template ensured precise tumor margin determination.
• Patient-specific titanium implants were designed, manufactured, and secured with miniscrews, with surgery guided by the template.

Main Results:

• Histopathology confirmed CFD in all cases.
• Patient-specific, 3D-printed titanium cranioplasty implants were used for reconstruction.
• No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed, with complete tumor removal and satisfactory cosmetic results confirmed by CT scans.

Conclusions:

• Computer-aided design and manufacturing of custom titanium implants are safe and effective for CFD reconstruction.
• This technique facilitates precise resection, achieves excellent cosmetic results, and has a low complication rate.
• Custom titanium implants represent a reliable method for cranioplasty in CFD cases.