A Cranioplasty plate is used to fill a defect in the skull, which may arise from trauma, surgery or other cause. We have a great deal of experience with Titanium cranioplasty plates. There are many reasons for preferring these to other materials (Ref 1) and we have a current project assessing these. Although we could probably provide cranioplasty plates in other materials using our automated procedure, our standard is currently Titanium.
We take a 3D image (set of CT slices) of the required segment of skull, which can be either scanned here or on any scanner which can output data in a known format (we know a good many). We then reconstruct the 3D image, using our own 3D workstation. 

Skull trauma
The prosthesis is then planned. This process may include using a mirrored section of skull on the opposite side of the skull, to obtain a contour where large segments are missing. From the plan a mould is prepared using computer controlled milling. This mould is thus prepared and shaped directly from the imaged skull bone surface and will match the surface accurately. The plate is then pressed directly from this mould.
Milled model, cast model, pressed titanium
In this way a plate can be made which accurately fits the skull at surgery, including the minimum number of screw holes or tabs. The 3D imaging provides us with all the required information about bone thickness etc, required to place a minimum number of these mounting screws. Plates can be prepared prior to surgery, so that there is never a need for a second operation to fit the cranioplasty plate. We then supply the anodised Titanium plate, together with Ti screws, ready for insertion.

Cranio in place 
Model & cranioplasty plate
Example of a larger plate We are able to accept 3D images in a variety of data formats, from different scanners, on different media, including the Internet. It is unfortunately not possible, at this moment in time, to transfer the finished plates over the internet. Should such material hyperlinks become available, we will be the first to make use of them.

This work is directed by our professional prosthetist, in close collaboration with the Dept. of Maxillo-Facial Surgery of UCL/UCLH. These techniques can also be used to create surgical models for a variety of purposes including visual aids to complex surgery in Maxillo- facial, orthopaedics and other areas.

Other Clinical Applications:

Malar augmentation	Mandibular repair	Orbital Floor repair	Surface scan model	Complex fracture analysis	Fetal heart model

For further information please contact us: cranioplasty@medphys.ucl.ac.uk or see our Details of Service