Acrylic cranioplasty using miniplate struts

OBJECTIVE: Cranioplasty using acrylic is a common procedure in patients with cranial defects secondary to trauma, infection, or tumor. The limitations 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 orbital rim. The authors have been continually developing techniques of cranioplasty. METHODS: Ten consecutive cranioplasties were performed over the past 5 years using this new technique. TECHNIQUE: The authors describe a technique using miniplates as struts to which the acrylic is applied using a 'reinforced concrete' principle. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: All 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.