To analyze the application effect of 3D printing polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material implants in children’s cranioplasty.

A total of 15 pediatric patients with skull defects or skull bone tumors admitted to Pediatric Neurosurgery Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January 2019 to March 2021 were selected. The thin-layer CT scanning of the skull (PEEK group) was completed before operation, peek implants were prepared by 3D printing technology, and cranial repair was performed for the child. Meanwhile, the children who underwent titanium mesh skull repair in the same period were selected for control (titanium mesh group). The age, gender, primary cause, location and area of skull defect of the two groups were compared, and the intraoperative and postoperative complications were analyzed.

The postoperative incision healed well in all patients. One patient had subcutaneous effusion after operation, which disappeared after puncture, suction and pressure bandage. One patient had a small amount of bleeding in the operation area, which improved after conservative treatment, and the other patients had no obvious postoperative complications. There was no significant difference between PEEK group and titanium mesh group in operation time, intraoperative bleeding, time from the last operation and the incidence of postoperative complications (P>0.05).

It is feasible and safe to apply 3D printing PEEK implant to cranioplasty for pediatric patients.