Titanium, what exactly does it do?

Titanium mesh material, or titanium alloy material. It is a material with high usage rate at present. It has the advantage of being inexpensive and cost-effective. Non-corrosive and strong. It can be forged and has better cosmetic effect compared to bone cement, etc. But at the same time, there are certain risks, first of all, the problem of its metal material causes it to have higher thermal conductivity and poor thermal insulation, which may cause sensitivity to hot and cold reactions, and also the surgery of skull repair with titanium mesh is an overlay surgery, which is more irritating to the scalp. It is also less histocompatible and less resistant to compression, so it results in it not being strong enough and easily deformed by force. There is also the presence of metallic artifacts,, which may interfere with medical examinations, such as CT resonance, causing diagnostic interference. In addition to titanium mesh, there is a more suitable cranial repair material in clinical practice, which is polyetheretherketone repair material. Polyetheretherketone material, also known as peek material. It is the most advanced material for treating cranial defects at present. It is also one of the most suitable materials to be selected for skull repair surgery. Polyetheretherketone is a polymer material comparable to the body’s own cranial bone. It is more biocompatible,. It is strong but very elastic and tough, more resistant to impact and better protection. Unlike titanium mesh surgery, skull repair surgery with polyetheretheretherketone is an embedded surgery and more comfortable. Moreover, compared with titanium mesh material polyetheretherketone material basically does not conduct heat and has strong insulation properties. It avoids the sensitivity to hot and cold reactions caused by cranial repair surgery with titanium mesh. There is also no postoperative infection and no rejection. Rays can be transmitted without forming artifacts. A more important point is that polyetheretherketone is a material that can be plasticized in three dimensions and can be customized for three-dimensional reconstruction according to the different needs of the patient. Based on the patient’s brain CT data, the design is made according to the 3D printing technology to produce a cranial bone that matches the bone window perfectly after the repair and is basically indistinguishable from the own cranial bone. However, there are not many hospitals that do skull repair by peek at present. It also requires a high level of skill and professionalism from the doctors who do peek skull repair in China. Therefore, if there are patients who need this treatment, it is recommended to choose a more authoritative hospital.