Cranioplasty with hydroxylapatite ceramic plates that can easily be trimmed during surgery. A preliminary report.

The author has designed new cranioplastic materials to reconstruct a skull defect of moderate size in both the convexity and the suboccipital region. A domed and elliptic plate measuring 50 x 75 mm in diameter, 12 mm in the maximum height and 5 mm in thickness was made from hydroxylapatite ceramics. The latter comprise Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 as mammalian bone minerals and are characterized by an excellent biocompatibility and biostability resulting in bony fusion. Hydroxylapatite ceramic plates can be easily trimmed during surgery to closely fit the skull defect. There were no adverse reactions nor resorption of the implants.