To explore the clinical value of three-dimensional (3D) printing-guided titanium mesh in repairing adult skull defects.

Thirty-nine patients who needed cranioplasty in Department of Neurosurgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from January 2017 to December 2018 were selected. The patients were divided into two groups according to the repair technology. Eleven patients who underwent routine cranioplasty were the control group, and 28 patients who underwent titanium mesh cranioplasty based on 3D printing technology were the experimental group. The clinical data of the two groups were compared statistically.

There was no statistical difference in sex, age and average defect area between the experimental group and the control group (P>0.05). The repair time of the experimental group was (95.18±8.51) min, which was shorter than that of the conventional operation (125.45±6.58) min; and the fixed number of titanium nails in the experimental group was (9.39±1.42), which was lower than that in the conventional operation group (11.55±1.86), the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the complications between the two groups (P>0.05).

It is safe and feasible to use 3D printing technology to guide precise plastic cutting of titanium mesh, which can shorten the repair time, reduce the complications and risks after operation. It can be used in clinical cranioplasty.