3D Printing and Neurotechnology in Cranial Reconstruction

Over the recent quarter-century, preoperative planning, prototyping, and treatment have been revolutionized by the burgeoning fields of computer-assisted design and 3D printing, profoundly so in reconstructive cranial devices and neuroprosthetics. The application of 3D printing in medicine has increased the quality of device design and patient care by improving the manufacturing of implants, tools available for intraoperative guidance, surgical preparation, and medical education. Alongside simultaneous advances in imaging modalities and device development, the ability to materialize a computerized design built within patient-specific anatomy has facilitated unprecedented detail and customization in reconstructive neurosurgical care. Enabled by these developments, a golden era for active cranial reconstruction has been born, exploiting the intracranial space as a neurotechnological platform. In this chapter, we will review the present use, areas of application, and limitations for 3D printing in craniofacial reconstruction with state-of-the-art neurotechnology.