title: A new custom made bioceramic implant for the repair of large and complex craniofacial bone defects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neurosurgery and Maxillofacial Surgery Departments of Limoges University Hospital Centre have developed a new concept of a custom made ceramic implant in hydroxyapatite (HA) for the reconstruction of large and complex craniofacial bone defects (more than 25 cm(2)).
  
  
  METHODS
  The manufacturing process of the implants used a stereolithography technique that produces implants with three-dimensional shapes derived directly from the scan file of the patient's skull without moulding or machining. Eight patients received 8 implants between 2005 and 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The surgical procedure is simple and fast. The post-operative follow-up was 12 months. No major complications (infection or fracture of the implant) were observed. The cosmetic result was considered satisfactory by both patients and surgeons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These new implants are well suited for reconstruction of large craniofacial bone defects (greater than 25 cm(2)) in adults and children over 8 years.
authors.affiliation: Service de Chirurgie Maxillo-Faciale, CHU de Limoges, 2, avenue Martin Luther King, 87042 Limoges, cedex, France. joel.brie@chu-limoges.fr
authors.forename: Joël
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brie
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chartier
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chaput
authors.forename: Cyrille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Delage
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pradeau
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caire
authors.forename: Marie-Paule
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Boncoeur
authors.forename: Jean-Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Moreau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry*; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry*; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016062:Porosity; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012886:Skull / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D017886:Durapatite