What is the underlying cause of the defect?
Severe TBI + decompressive craniectomy
Young patients, large irregular defects, high infection risk. Patient-matched titanium is the strongest choice — large defects where mesh precision is poor and PEEK is structurally inadequate.
→ Recommended: Excellent MedTech PSI
Ischaemic stroke + DC
Mid 50–70 yr, hemispheric. Patient-matched geometry reduces OR time. Mesh can work for smaller defects; PEEK is often too weak for large defects.
→ Recommended: Excellent MedTech PSI
Aneurysm rupture
Multi-disciplinary team approach. Patient-matched geometry handles irregular defects. The MEI workflow is particularly valuable here.
→ Recommended: Excellent MedTech PSI
Open trauma with CSF leak history
Contaminated field, soft-tissue compromise. Patient-matched geometry simplifies the case; gradient porous supports vascularised soft-tissue integration.
→ Recommended: Excellent MedTech PSI
Brain tumour resection
Often orbito-frontal or temporal. Aesthetic outcome matters. The biomimetic dual-surface design is the right answer for these cases.
→ Recommended: Excellent MedTech PSI
Aesthetic / cosmetic
Highest aesthetic expectations. 1:1 curvature restoration is the differentiator. Patient-reported outcomes consistently strong.
→ Recommended: Excellent MedTech PSI
How large, where, and what tissue condition?
| Characteristic | Excellent MedTech PSI | Titanium mesh | PEEK plate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (< 5 cm²) flat defect | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Medium (5–25 cm²) curved defect | ✓ Strong | △ Manual bending | △ Requires mould |
| Large (> 25 cm²) or bifrontal defect | ✓ Strong | ✗ | ✗ Insufficient strength |
| Orbital / temporal / aesthetic-sensitive | ✓ 1:1 match | △ Manual shaping | △ Pre-moulded |
| Compromised soft tissue | ✓ Porous integration | △ | ✗ No integration |
| Prior infection / contaminated | ✓ Porous biology | △ | ✗ Biofilm risk |
| Patient < 18 yr (growing skeleton) | ✓ Paediatric sizes | ✓ | △ Limited growth accommodation |
What does the surgeon need to provide?
Required imaging
- CT (preferred) — 1 mm slice thickness, DICOM format, bone & soft-tissue windows
- MRI (when CT contraindicated) — high-resolution 3D T1, T2 sequences
- Defect description — clinical notes, prior surgical history, expected surgical plan
What we deliver
- 3D-printed patient-matched implant, sterile, double-pouch packaged
- ±10% size backup implant, sterile, double-pouch packaged
- Design rationale dossier — FEA results, design choices, surgeon sign-off record
- All within 5–7 working days (3 days expedited)
What to tell the patient.
For the patient
"Your implant is being custom-made for you from your own CT scan. It's titanium, the same material used in joint replacements for decades. The shape is engineered to match your natural skull — both the outside contour and the inside structure where it meets your bone."
For the family
"The complication rates we see in our large clinical experience are well below what's reported for conventional implants. The surgery itself is typically faster and more predictable because the implant is already shaped to fit."
For the payor / HTA
"The implant is more expensive at the point of purchase, but the total cost of care is lower because complications — re-operations, infections, prolonged antibiotics — are an order of magnitude less frequent."
What surgeons ask us.
Re-operation cases are a particular strength of the patient-matched approach. The geometry is re-derived from the current CT, the soft-tissue envelope is typically thinner, and the porous bone-contact surface supports re-integration. We have several hundred documented re-do cases in our dataset.
Active infection is a contraindication for any implant. The standard of care is infection eradication, then delayed cranioplasty. Our porous titanium is the preferred material for delayed cranioplasty after infection, given the favourable integration biology.
Yes. Ti-6Al-4V ELI is non-magnetic. MRI under 3 T has been validated. Mild heat generation is well within safety limits. Post-operative MRI is fully supported.
Our paediatric programme covers patients as young as 2 years old. The implant is sized to the patient; the porous micro-architecture supports bone ingrowth as the child grows. Long-term follow-up is in our registry.
Yes. The patient-matched design includes accessible screw positions for planned removal. In re-operation cases, our 0% critical failure re-operation rate suggests the need for removal is exceptionally rare.
Discuss a specific case.
Our clinical engineering team can help you decide if patient-matched reconstruction is right for your patient.