ACRYLIC CRANIOPLASTY USING MINIPLATE STRUTS

OBJECTIVE: Cranioplasty using acrylic is a common procedure in patient s with cranial defects secondary to trauma, infection, or tumor. The l imitations of this technique include poor adherence of the acrylic to surrounding bone and difficulty in achieving a proper cosmetic contour in complicated cranial defects, especially those involving the orbita l rim. The authors have been continually developing techniques of cran ioplasty. METHODS: Ten consecutive cranioplasties were performed over the past 5 years using this new technique. TECHNIQUE: The authors desc ribe a technique using miniplates as struts to which the acrylic is ap plied using a ''reinforced concrete'' principle. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: A ll patients achieved excellent cosmetic results with no complications. This technique allows contour of the repair site while the acrylic is curing and provides a more resilient resulting prosthesis.