Abstract:

BACKGROUND: In recent year, there are many new materials for skull repair, including autologus substitute, allograft materials and allogenic materials.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize clinical application of commonly used skull repair materials in recent years and the prevention and cure of complications
METHODS: Papers regarding skull repair materials and complications published in VIP data between January 2002 and October  2010 were researched using key words of “cranioplasty; repair materials; autologous bone; silica gel; bone cement; EH composite; titanium mesh and complication”. Inclusion criteria: papers regarding skull repair materials and complications. Exclusion criteria: repetitive study and relatively old literature. A total of 48 documents were included in this study.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Autologous bone has better histocompatibility, no rejection phenomenon, but the source is limited and graft can be absorbed; Medical silicone is cheaper, but histocompatibility is not enough; Bore cement derived easily and cheaper, but easy to damage the brain tissue; EH composite materials has better histocompatibility and synostosis, but number of cases is not enough; Titanium mesh has better histocompatibility, more stable, but is more expensive. We should select the ideal cranioplasty material based on patient's condition, economic conditions, the level of local equipment and technology, and try to avoid or reduce complications.