Patient-specific prostheses are becoming an excellent treatment options for bones with complex geometries (e.g. the skull, and the pelvis). As shown in the animation below, a patient who had a portion of his skull removed due to craniotomy was referred to FJSharif for design of a patient-specific titanium cranial plate. The prosthesis was designed in accordance with the geometry of the defect, based on CT scan images, and manufactured using 3D printing.

Key features of the custom-made prosthesis include:

1. Precise geometric match between the prosthesis and the defect.
2. Presence of flanges for easier registration and placement of screws perpendicular to the bone surface.
3. Presence of oblique screw holes for placement of screws along the thickness of the cranial bone.
4. Optimized porosity design to reduce weight and thermal mass, as well as facilitating fluid exchange.

An additional advantage of using patient-specific cranial prostheses is the restoration of the patient’s natural anatomy after surgery, addressing both functional and aesthetic concerns. The primary function of the reconstructed skull structure is to protect the sensitive brain tissue, while aesthetics also play a significant role.

Custom-made titanium cranial prostheses offer both strength and excellent biocompatibility. Moreover, osseointegration has been well-established for this alloy and numerous scientific research articles support this.