DOI: 10.36347/sjmcr.2021.v09i04.029

Pages: 412-415

Objectives: Customized cranioplasty implants are anatomically more accurate than manually shaped implants but remain costly. We describe a cost-effective technique of producing customized cranioplasty implants with the use of 3-dimensional (3D) printed molds. Methods: The patient had a left parietal cranial defect after a craniectomy for cranial trauma. A 3D image of his skull was obtained from computed tomography (CT) scan images. The image of the implant was generated by a digital subtraction mirror-imaging process using the normal side of his cranium as a model. Intraoperatively, the mold was put in a sterile bag and then used to cast a customized implant subsequently trimmed before fixation. Results: The patients had excellent cosmetic results and underwent postoperative CT scans that showed excellent restoration of the symmetrical contours of the cranium. No neurologic or infectious complications occurred over a 6-month follow-up for the patient. Conclusions: Making customized cranioplasty implants via 3D printed polylactic acid molds is a cost-effective technique for delayed reconstruction of various cranial defects.