title: Cranioplasty with the Medpor porous polyethylene flexblock implant. Technical note.
abstract: The authors describe the use of a porous polyethylene Flexblock implant for cosmetic cranioplasty. The implant may be used to cover any small- or medium-sized (< 8 cm) cranial defect, offering similar cosmetic results to standard alloplast cranioplasty while decreasing operation time. The porous implant design permits ingrowth of soft tissue and bone to increase implant strength and decrease the risk of infection. The Flexblock alloplast has been utilized in 25 cases with excellent cosmetic results and no implant-related complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Couldwell
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dougherty
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D009915:Orbit / Q000601:surgery; D011095:Polyethylenes; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012886:Skull / Q000601:surgery*; D013518:Surgery, Plastic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C084562:Medpor; D011095:Polyethylenes