Practicality of Pre-Printed Polyetheretherketone (Peek) Implants for Cranioplasty Following Sphenoid Wing Mass Lesion Resection

Sphenoid wing mass lesions are capable of encasing and invading critical osseous and fronto-orbital structures. In these cases, skull base approaches are driven by tumor type, size, and location and can vary dramatically with respect to the extent of post-resection cranial reconstruction. Detailed osseous contours of this region can create asymmetry with hand-made reconstruction efforts and can negatively impact cosmesis. In certain instances, autologous bone flaps are contraindicated. Herein, we describe the practicality of pre-fabricated polyetheretherketone (PEEK) implants for cranioplasty with case illustrations involving two patients with sphenoid wing mass lesions. A 60-year-old female and a 65-year-old male presented with 3.5 cm × 6 cm × 2.3 cm and 7.5 cm × 5.3 cm × 7 cm sphenoid wing mass lesions, respectively. In both cases, magnetic resonance imaging was used to model and print three-dimensional PEEK bone flap implants ([Fig. 1A, B]). Each patient underwent orbito-zyogomatic craniotomy and subsequent cranioplasty with PEEK implants without complication. Patients were satisfied with the cosmetic outcomes. Postoperative pathology revealed diagnoses of benign WHO Grade 1 secretory meningioma and poorly differentiated carcinoma with squamous differentiation, respectively. The use of pre-printed PEEK implants proved to be feasible and with favorable cosmetic outcomes but required meticulous pre-operative planning. Additional research is needed to compare differences in time, costs, and patient outcomes in the setting of various sphenoid mass lesions to make informed decisions when utilizing this technique.

Fig. 1

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
15. Februar 2022