Rigid Fixation of Methylmethacrylate on Cranioplasty: Internal Screw-Locking Method.

Lee, Won Jai; Park, Yil; Park, Beyoung Yun

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 2003;30(5):541-544.
Published online September 1, 2003.

Rigid Fixation of Methylmethacrylate on Cranioplasty: Internal Screw-Locking Method.

Won Jai Lee, Yil Park, Beyoung Yun Park

¹Institute for Human Tissue Restoration, Korea.
²Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. bypark53@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr

Abstract

Methylmethacrylate has been proven to be successful in craniofacial alloplastic contouring surgery over several decades. Especially, for the patient with only forehead irregularity after the skull trauma, the alloplastic contouring surgery with methylmethacrylate onlay implant is the choice of treatment. The major advantage of methylmethacrylate is that it is completely malleable in the initial stages of hardening, thus permitting an optimal contouring. However, due to its incapability of direct bonding to the surrounding tissues and consequent lack of fixation, additional fixation technique is necessary. Several different methods have been established to prefabricate methylmethacrylate for cranioplasty, but they are complex; no one-stage procedure. In case of forehead irregularity we performed craniofacial contouring using methylmethacrylate and fixation with internal screw-locking method. Firm fixation, molding in situ, and easiness of manipulation are potential advantages over previously established methods.

Keywords: Methylmethacrylate; Cranioplasty; Internal screw-locking