Artificial skullcap from the 3D printer

Skullcap from 3D printer successfully implanted

03/29/2014

In the Netherlands, doctors of a 22-year-old woman implanted a complete skullcap from the 3D printer. The woman suffers from a rare hereditary disease. Three months ago, the operation was so successful that the Dutchman can already work again.

Worldwide unique operation
At the University Hospital in Utrecht, the Netherlands, doctors have been able to use an artificial skullcap for a 22-year-old woman that comes entirely from the 3D printer. According to numerous press reports, the hospital reported that an operation of this kind has been unique worldwide. The intervention of the neurosurgeon lasted 23 hours and was performed three months ago. As reported, the patient has no symptoms and is already working again.

Skullcap pressed on the brain
The operation was necessary because the woman suffers from the rare hereditary disease Engelmann syndrome. It is a form of osteosclerosis that causes bone hardening. The disease can affect different bones at different stages. First, these are usually long bones such as tibia, thigh bone, spokes or ulna. But in the further course of the disease, the complaints, such as bone pain, spread to other bones and there are more concomitant impairments of the surrounding muscles. The Dutch woman's skull had become thicker and squeezed on her brain. Although about 1.5 inches were normal, the skull of the patient was already five inches thick. The consequences were a limited vision and severe headache.

Plastic skullcap
The doctors decided to replace the whole bone with a plastic skullcap. Normally such parts would be made by hand from a cementitious material. However, in the case of the 22-year-olds, they opted for a 3D variant, which was made by an Australian company. This plastic implant could also be adapted exactly to the head shape of the patient. In other patients so far only small parts of the skull have been printed and implanted, but never such a large part. According to the treating neurologist, the plastic implant also improves the patient's brain better than the old method.

Hope for more uses
The senior surgeon, dr. Bon Verweij, who had previously transplanted implants from the 3D printer, said it was barely recognizable that the patient had ever undergone surgery. However, it is still unclear whether the plastic skull will have to be replaced in the future or whether he will last a lifetime. The physicians now hope that the technique may also be used in other diseases or problems with the bones. For example, patients with bone adhesions or brain tumor removal could receive appropriate implants. (Ad)