M. Voigt et al., Three-dimensional reconstruction of a defect of the frontozygomatic area by custom made Proplast II implant, EUR J PLAST, 23(7), 2000, pp. 391-394
Alloplastic materials are a valid alternative to autologous bone grafts in
contour defects of the facial skeleton Biomaterials also reduce donor site
morbidity. In addition, alloplastic materials can be contoured exactly as n
eeded. Computed tomography (CT) scan digital data can be computed into thre
e-dimensional data for 1:1 stereolithographic reconstruction of the complet
e skull or segments as required. The design of an implant for defect recons
truction may even be computed as a mirror image of the unaffected undeforme
d side. Therefore it is common to perform phantom operations on stereolitho
graphically built models from the patient's head before a complex reconstru
ction is done. Proplast II has an advantage over other materials, such as h
ydroxyapatite, titanum, gold, silicone, and polymethylmetacrylate (PMMA), b
ecause of the low weight, the fact that the material can be carved with a s
harp scalpel, and the possible integration into fibrous and bone tissue. Pr
oplast II is semirigid and can easily be sutured to the bony defect.