Application of 3D PEEK in skull defects

In daily life, certain accidents can cause cranial injuries and defects. It is then necessary to choose the appropriate prosthetic materials to repair.AT A GLANCE The material may not be familiar to most people, but in the field of bone repair, it can be said that this material shines. It is closely related to three-dimensional reconstruction,3DThe combination of printing technology brings a better repair experience to the majority of patients

Let’s talk about it today3D PEEKApplication to skull defects.

Causes of skull malformations

The main causes of craniocerebral malformations include congenital factors, craniocerebral surgery, craniocerebral trauma, etc. Skull defects mainly need to be treated surgically, such as skull defect repair, which is suitable for skull defects whose diameter exceeds3cm. However, some cases are not suitable for surgical treatment, such as those with intracranial infection or increased intracranial pressure, which are prone to poor scalp healing.

1Congenital factors: In early childhood, cranial malformations occur due to congenital anomalies in the development of the baby’s brain structure;

2. Cranial surgery: In cases of brain diseases, such as tumors or intracranial hypertension, it may be necessary to remove the skull, resulting in cranial abnormalities;

3. Traumatic brain injury: When the head is impacted or damaged by an external force, such as a penetrating head injury in a car accident, it will directly lead to skull abnormalities. Skull deformities can also occur when the head hits the ground after a fall from height.

In addition, in the chronic stage of cranial osteomyelitis, there is local thickening of the skull, accompanied by proliferative changes and the formation of dead bone around it, which is also a risk factor for skull malformations .

The importance of repairing cranial defects

If the skull defect is not repaired in time, it is very dangerous. In severe cases, it can even be life-threatening and affect lifespan. The skull plays a very good role in protecting our brain. Once damaged, the brain tissue in the skull lacks the necessary protection and is easily injured.

A defect in the skull causes abnormal intracranial pressure, and the pressure inside and outside the skull is connected, which is not conducive to the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid, and some brain tissue functions can In addition to being restricted, the collapse caused by a skull defect is also significantly reduced; affects appearance.

When the skull is defective, due to the loss of protection of the bone flap, the effect of atmospheric pressure will cause ipsilateral cerebrospinal fluid circulation disorder and decreased cerebral blood flow, leading to potential tissue damage cerebral.

Large-scale cranial abnormalities can easily cause deformation and displacement of brain tissue, enlargement of ventricles, and disordered flow of water in the brain parenchyma, affecting the production, absorption and circulation of cerebrospinal fluid. , leading to traumatic hydrocephalus, encephalocele and other discomforts.

Maintaining the integrity of the dura mater is the protection of the brain, so it is very important to choose a suitable material to repair skull defects.

AT A GLANCEUse of materials

at presentAT A GLANCEThe material is a relatively advanced repair material that can be reconstructed through three-dimensional reconstruction.3DThe impression can greatly restore the physiological structure of the skull. In addition, this material has very good tissue compatibility and will produce virtually no rejection reactions. It also has strong radiolucency and will not affect future treatment.CTMRI and other medical examinations, its elasticity, strength, thermal insulation, stability, etc. are all very ideal materials for skull repair.AT A GLANCEThe material blends perfectly with your skull.

what is3D PEEK

3D PEEK We must first interpret it separately,AT A GLANCEIt is a material whose hardness, rigidity, elasticity, stability, thermal insulation, tissue compatibility, plasticity, radiation transmission, magnetic field compatibility and other aspects are equivalent to those of the autologous skull. It gives particularly good results in clinical applications. new trend in skull repair materials.

And3DRefers to an auxiliary method, referring to the reconstruction of three-dimensional images+3Dprinting technology,3D PEEKIn simple terms this means3DPrinting technology andAT A GLANCEThe way materials are combined in a repair.

Glass, bone cement, silicone and other materials have become obsolete due to various defects and are no longer used clinically. At present, the widely used skull repair material clinically in most hospitals is titanium mesh material. However, this material also has some defects, such as postoperative infection and rejection, sensitive reaction to cold and heat, and easy deformation due to force.sideNMR examination and other problems,AT A GLANCERepair material, also called polyetheretherketone, is currently the most suitable material for skull repair.

AT A GLANCE Material benefits

Advantage 1. It has a high degree of tissue compatibility and is naturally similar to the skull. Its hardness, elasticity and thermal conductivity are all very similar to those of normal skull, and its tissue compatibility is very good.

Advantage 2. TransparencyxWire is a non-magnetic material. After repair, it has a good effect on secondary inspection. As imaging technology develops more and more, people’s willingness to undergo magnetic resonance imaging becomes stronger and stronger.glanceOnce the skull is repaired, magnetic resonance imaging will not be affected and there will be no interference with future examinations.

with3DWith the rapid development of printing technology, whether in industrial design, education industry or medical field, this can be achieved through easy operation.3DPrinting equipment allows for unique creativity.

3DPrinting technology is a rapid prototyping technology based on digital model files and using adhesive materials such as metal powder or plastic to build objects by printing layer by layer.

Reconstruction of 3D images and3DPrint

It is precisely because this technology has strong copying and imitation capabilities that it can solve difficult, complex and personalized design needs and has good application prospects in the medical field.

Different materials, colors, hardness and flexibility are used to perfectly reproduce details, touch, etc., maximally simulating human anatomy, and can be applied to different medical scenarios.

passCTAfter obtaining the original tomographic image data of the patient using imaging equipment such asMEDIPThe software performs three-dimensional reconstruction to form an editable three-dimensional digital model to guide3DPrinter prints layer by layer to personalize patient organs/skeletal model, used for preoperative planning and surgical simulation to help reduce surgical risks and shorten operation time.

In general,AT A GLANCEThe material adopts the integrated repair method, usingAT A GLANCEIt is fixed with material connection parts and titanium nails. It will not cause cutting damage like the titanium mesh material covering the repair, and the postoperative skull surface will be smoother and more natural, and the appearance will be more beautiful.

source:Professor Wei Min of Shanghai Ninth Hospital