Objective: To describe a new method for cranial reconstruction after posterior fossa craniectomy in the surgical treatment of Chiari 1 malformation through a technical note and presentation of 3 illustrative cases.
Methods and materials: A virtual surgical planning workflow was established for planning posterior fossa decompression, designing the suboccipital reconstruction, and manufacturing a 3D-printed polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) casting mold. The casting accuracy was assessed by conducting a phantom experiment, and clinical data were provided by means of 3 illustrative cases.
Results: The accuracy of implant fabrication was found to be excellent, particularly when PMMA is introduced into the mold in a malleable state. In all 3 clinical cases, the implants were fabricated and positioned with success. Postoperative analysis revealed that accurate placement was achieved, with only minor deviation from the preoperative plan.
Conclusions: 3D virtual surgical planning provides feasible tools for the planning of posterior fossa decompression and intraoperative fabrication of accurate patient-specific suboccipital cranioplasty.
Keywords: 3D printing; 3D surgery; Chiari malformation type 1; Cranioplasty; Template; Virtual surgical planning.
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