RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Cranioplasty is a common procedure in neurosurgery. However, cosmetic and neuroprotective reconstructions are necessary after cranioplasty. Treatment of patients with a meningioma with bone infiltration requires removal of the tumor-infiltrated bone and subsequent cranioplasty. We report an efficient technique for cosmetic and neuroprotective reconstructions using a custom-made ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene cranial plate (SKULPIO, Kyocera Medical, Kyoto, Japan) in a single-step surgery involving tumor removal and skull reconstruction. METHODS: We present 2 illustrative cases of a 49-year-old female with a right frontal convexity meningioma and 69-year-old male with a bilateral parasagittal atypical meningioma, both involving extensive skull invasion. We preoperatively planned craniotomy size to facilitate the removal of the tumor-infiltrated skull bone using the patients' 3-dimensional cranial models followed by the construction of a custom-made cranial plate. After tumor removal, we drilled out the outer table and the diploe of the cranial edge until the custom-made bone plate accurately fit the bone defect. Finally, the cranial plate was fixed using titanium plates and screws. RESULTS: Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging for each case revealed total meningioma removal and an aesthetically reconstructed skull. Using this technique, precise adjustment of the cranial edge to the plate contributes to a gapless and aesthetic reconstruction. Furthermore, the intact inner table of the skull firmly supports the custom-made bone plate. CONCLUSIONS: This technique involving the placement of a custom-made cranial plate during a single-step surgery was found to be efficient for cosmetic and neuroprotective reconstructions.
