Paradigm Shift in Materials for Skull Reconstruction Facilitated by Science and Technological Integration

Abstract

The surgical repair of a bone deficiency in the skull caused by a prior procedure or accident is known as cranioplasty. There are various types of cranioplasties, but the majority entail raising the scalp and reshaping the skull using either the original piece of bone from the skull or a specially molded graft created from Titanium (plate or mesh), artificial bone in place of, a stable biomaterial (prefabricated customized implant to match the exact contour and shape of the skull). Cranioplasty, one of the oldest surgical treatments for cranial abnormalities, has undergone several changes throughout the years to discover the best material to improve patient outcomes. Various materials have been utilized in cranioplasty throughout history. As biomedical technology progresses, surgeons will have access to new materials. There is still no agreement on the optimum material, and research into biologic and nonbiologic alternatives is ongoing in the hopes of finding the finest reconstruction material. The materials and techniques used in cranioplasty are covered in this article.