Türk Nöroşirürji Dergisi 2006 , Vol 16 , Num 1
A New Method in Acrylic Cranioplasty: Technical Note
Ferda ÇAĞAVİ1, Murat KALAYCI1, Aslan ÖZER1, Zeynep ÇAĞAVİ2, Şanser GÜL1, Bektaş AÇIKGÖZ1
1Karaelmas Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Nöroşirürji Anabilim Dalı, Zonguldak
2Karaelmas Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Radyoloji Anabilim Dalı, Zonguldak
OBJECTIVE: An osseous flap is kept under a fridge-environment or within the patient's body. If any deterioration occurs in the fridge or any infection develops in the body portion where it is re-located, the osseous flap is rejected. Sometimes it is troublesome to re-shape or give the most proper contour in cases with broad craniectomy by using acrylic. We introduced a simple and easily performed acrylic cranioplasty technique where the originally infected bony part is used as a mould.

METHODS: A broad fronto-parieto-temporal decompression was performed in a sixtyyear- old man with right cerebral artery occlusion. Autologous cranioplasty was not performed because of risk of infection after seven months. A ready-made moulding material, after soaked in water for 15 seconds, was used on the outer surface of the bony flap in 5-6 layers and an external surface moulding of the native bone was prepared. Later on, the moulding was sterilized by ethylene oxide. This moulding was used in cranioplasty by methylenemethacrylate.

RESULTS: During the postoperative period, the cranial convexity was satisfactory and the cosmetic result was successful.

CONCLUSION: In situations where the patient's original bone can not be used such as when the elements of deep freezing are not suitable, there is a risk of developing infections after autologous cranioplasty, infection development in the body part where the osseous flap is placed, or when a tumor focus is found on the outer surface of the bone without forming any deformity or in pediatric patients where large craniectomy operations are performed, a copy of the original bone can be prepared and successful cosmetic results could be achieved by this simple and easy-to-use technique we described in this report. Anahtar Kelimeler : Acrylic, Cranioplasty, Methylmethacrylate, Mould