Surgical planning and finite element analysis for the neurocraneal protection in cranioplasty with PMMA: A case study
Freddy Patricio Moncayo-Matute,
Pablo Gerardo Peña-Tapia,
Efrén Vázquez-Silva,
Paúl Bolívar Torres-Jara,
Diana Patricia Moya-Loaiza,
Gabriela Abad-Farfán,
Andrés Fernando Andrade-Galarza
Affiliations
Freddy Patricio Moncayo-Matute
Department of Mechanical Engineering/Research Group on New Materials and Transformation Processes (GIMAT-acronym in Spanish), Universidad Politécnica Salesiana (UPS), Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador
Pablo Gerardo Peña-Tapia
Department of Neurosurgery/Society for the Fight Against Cancer, SOLCA Cancer Institute, Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador; Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital “Del Río”, Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador
Efrén Vázquez-Silva
Department of Mechanical Engineering/Research Group on New Materials and Transformation Processes (GIMAT-acronym in Spanish), Universidad Politécnica Salesiana (UPS), Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador; Corresponding author.
Paúl Bolívar Torres-Jara
Department of Mechanical Engineering/Research Group on New Materials and Transformation Processes (GIMAT-acronym in Spanish), Universidad Politécnica Salesiana (UPS), Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador
Diana Patricia Moya-Loaiza
Department of Automotive Mechanical Engineering/Research Group on New Materials and Transformation Processes (GIMAT), Universidad Politécnica Salesiana (UPS), Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador
Gabriela Abad-Farfán
Department of Civil Engineering/Research Group on New Materials and Transformation Processes (GIMAT), Universidad Politécnica Salesiana (UPS), Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador
Andrés Fernando Andrade-Galarza
Department of Oncology/Society for the Fight Against Cancer, SOLCA Cancer Institute, Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador
New developments in terms of additive manufacturing, computational tools and mathematical simulation techniques have favored the development of successful methodologies for the restoration or restitution of bone structures in the human body. Likewise, achievements in Materials Science have allowed the development of biocompatible composites capable of achieving mechanical characteristics and biological similarities comparable to those of natural bone. Without considering the advantages and disadvantages of some biomaterials with respect to others, this research aims to evaluate the surgical planning, the design process, the impact resistance and the critical deflection of a customized cranial implant manufactured from polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). With the support of finite element methods (FEM), the level of neurocranial protection offered by the implant is assessed.
