A new custom made bioceramic implant for the repair of large and complex craniofacial bone defects.

Introduction: Neurosurgery and Maxillofacial Surgery Departments of Limoges University Hospital Centre have developed a new concept of a custom made ceramic implant in hydroxyapatite (HA) for the reconstruction of large and complex craniofacial bone defects (more than 25 cm(2)).

Materials And Methods: The manufacturing process of the implants used a stereolithography technique that produces implants with three-dimensional shapes derived directly from the scan file of the patient's skull without moulding or machining. Eight patients received 8 implants between 2005 and 2008.

Results: The surgical procedure is simple and fast. The post-operative follow-up was 12 months. No major complications (infection or fracture of the implant) were observed. The cosmetic result was considered satisfactory by both patients and surgeons.

Conclusions: These new implants are well suited for reconstruction of large craniofacial bone defects (greater than 25 cm(2)) in adults and children over 8 years.