I.I. Janelidze Research Institute of Emergency Medicine

History

2024: Application of 3D printing to repair cranial defects

The I.I. Janelidze Research Institute of Emergency Medicine in St. Petersburg began to use 3D printing technology to restore cranial defects in patients with craniocerebral injuries. This became known in August 2024. This innovative technique makes it possible to create individual implants that exactly correspond to the anatomical characteristics of each patient, which significantly increases the effectiveness of surgical interventions.

According to the "I.I. Janelidze Research Institute of Emergency Medicine," the use of 3D printing in neurosurgery became possible thanks to the acquisition of a modern 3D printer at the institute, which allows the manufacture of complex forms of implants. As of August 2024, 10 operations to close cranial defects have already been carried out using this technology. The plates used are made of special bone cement, which ensures their strength and biocompatibility.

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According to the head of the surgical department of the Research Institute of Emergency Medicine, neurosurgeon Nikita Serebrennikov, the process of restoring cranial defects begins with a computed tomography of the patient, on the basis of which a three-dimensional model of the defect is created. This model is then used to create a mold into which bone cement is poured, thus forming the necessary implant.

The manufacture of the plate takes several days, which allows us to plan and carry out operations to close defects as soon as possible, - said Serebrennikov.

Stages of implant manufacturing include modeling of skull defect, printing of mould, creation of implant plate and subsequent operation for its installation. On average, the entire process from modeling to the completion of the operation takes about 3-4 days, and the surgery itself lasts from 2 to 3 hours. This speed and accuracy of procedures significantly reduce the risk of complications and improve the quality of life of patients.^[1]

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