Patient specific Polymethyl methacrylate customised cranioplasty using 3D printed silicone moulds: Technical note

INTRODUCTION: Cranioplasty after decompressive craniectomy can be performed with several techniques and materials. With the common use of 3D printing, custom cranioplasty can be produced at affordable cost. Aim of this technical note is to describe our technique for producing patient specific Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) cranioplasty using 3D printed silicone moulds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled seven patients from January 2020 to June 2021 who required surgery for cranioplasty. The 3D printing was used to produce silicone moulds for defining the exact shape of the PMMA cranioplasty, according to the CT scan of the patient. RESULTS: We performed seven procedures. The mean time of the surgery was 80 min. All cranioplasties perfectly matched the patient specific anatomy. No complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Using 3D printed patient specific silicone moulds and PMMA resulted to be effective, with affordable costs and ensuring a good cosmetic result.