Cranioplasty: Review of materials and techniques

TLDR

Cranioplasty repairs cranial defects to improve cosmetic, psychological, and social outcomes, yet despite the long history of diverse materials and techniques, consensus on the optimal reconstruction material remains elusive. The article reviews the principal materials and techniques used in cranioplasty. The review examines the evolution of materials and surgical techniques in cranioplasty.

Abstract

Cranioplasty is the surgical intervention to repair cranial defects. The aim of cranioplasty is not only a cosmetic issue; also, the repair of cranial defects gives relief to psychological drawbacks and increases the social performances. Many different types of materials were used throughout the history of cranioplasty. With the evolving biomedical technology, new materials are available to be used by the surgeons. Although many different materials and techniques had been described, there is still no consensus about the best material, and ongoing researches on both biologic and nonbiologic substitutions continue aiming to develop the ideal reconstruction materials. In this article, the principle materials and techniques of cranioplasty are reviewed.