Integrated porous polyetheretherketone implants for treating skull defect

Abstract

Skull defect is a common clinical disease, and the corresponding treatment is still a grand challenge. No artificial product can perfectly integrate with human skull and match the skull defect during growth. Herein, we report a porous polyetheretherketone (PEEK) implant with the microstructures almost identical to natural bones for repairing skull defect. Compared to non-porous PEEK controls, the porous PEEK implants efficiently promote cell adhesion, regenerate skull tissues, and finally achieve perfect healing with surrounding tissues within 6 months. This work suggests the important potential of integrated porous PEEK implants for treating skull defect in clinic, especially for children with rapidly growing skulls.

Keywords

• PEEK implants
• Skull defect
• Perfect integration