Reconstruction of cranial vault defect with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) implants.

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Reconstruction of cranial vault defect with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) implants.

World Neurosurg. 2017 Apr 18;:

Authors: Brandicourt P, Delanoé F, Roux FE, Jalbert F, Brauge D, Lauwers F

Abstract
OBJECT: Reconstruction of a cranial vault defect is a frequent challenge in neurosurgery. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is used in many types of prostheses and has been employed for 10 years in our institution (University Hospital of Toulouse - France). The objectives of this study are to describe the benefits and drawbacks of reconstructing the cranial vault defect with a PEEK prosthesis.
METHODS: Clinical data of the 37 patients who received a reconstruction with a custom-made PEEK prosthesis from 2007 to 2015 were retrospectively analysed. Operative technique, post-operative complications and patient's satisfaction with the aesthetic result - on a scale ranging from 1 (very dissatisfied) to 5 (very satisfied) - were studied.
RESULTS: Average follow-up was 4.3 years (from 2 months to 9 years). The placement of the prosthesis was performed 195 days on average (from 0 to 1051 days - sd 258 days) after the initial bone flap removal. One infection (2.7%) was described, which required the removal of the prosthesis. Six patients (16%) were re-operated by the maxillo-facial surgery team to treat a lack of temporal projection related to muscle atrophy, using a fat cell autograft taken from the abdominal region. Overall, 30 (81%) answered the question about their aesthetic satisfaction, with good results on the satisfaction scale (average 4.5; from 3 to 5).
CONCLUSION: The use of a PEEK prosthesis in cranial vault defect reconstruction is a reliable technique with a high patient satisfaction rate and with few complications. Corrections of the temporal muscle atrophy by fat grafting may be performed in addition, without increasing the rate of complications.

PMID: 28434964 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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