Is it better to repair a skull defect with autologous bone? When patients do not know about cranial bone repair, they will definitely feel that the choice of material is better to use their own. They are afraid to try other materials for repair, worrying about the incompatibility between the material and the autologous tissue, or the lack of aesthetics and naturalness after surgery. However, doctors do not recommend the use of autologous bone as the material, what is the reason? This is the history of cranial bone repair materials. The history of cranial repair materials: The archaeological evidence of cranial repair materials shows that cranial repair can be traced back to 7000 BC. A Peruvian skull can be traced back to 2000 B.C.; this skull was found to have a left frontal defect covered by a 1 mm thick gold disc. This is probably the earliest cranial restoration material ever found. And then people have tried to repair skull defects with animal tissue, usually by boiling and perforating the animal’s bone before placement. Then later this was developed to cadaveric cartilage for cranial repair also known as allograft however, cadaveric cranial bone repair showed a higher rate of infection and bone resorption and people started to choose autologous bone graft. Autologous bone grafting is preferred because this method reduces the rejection of foreign body introduction and the living body easily adapts to and fuses with the autologous bone flap. History has progressed to this point and the materials for cranial bone repair surgery have matured. Why autologous bone is not recommended as a material for cranial defects: Although autologous bone materials have become relatively mature compared to other materials, there is still the possibility of other risks. First, the material is limited and the human skeleton is so small that repairing the skull may create another defect; in addition, it is necessary to open a second surgical area, which is more invasive and risky. In many cases, autologous bone may be resorbed after grafting, and there are also problems with fixing the shape of the autologous bone structure and difficulties in shaping it. Therefore, autologous bone repair materials are gradually being abandoned as well. So there is no better cranial bone repair material available? The most suitable cranial repair material: As the medical level continues to advance, the choice of cranial repair material has become more superior. Currently, the most suitable cranial repair materials are titanium mesh and polyetheretherketone materials. Peek is the most advanced material available for the treatment of skull defects. It is also one of the most suitable materials for skull repair surgery. Peek is a polymer material that is comparable to the body’s own skull bone. It is more biocompatible,. It is strong but very elastic and tough, more resistant to impact and better protection. It is also more comfortable. It has strong insulation properties. There is no sensitivity to hot or cold reactions. There is also no post-operative infection and no rejection. Rays can be transmitted without forming artifacts. The 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 patients. The design is based on the patient’s brain CT data, and the 3D printing technology is used to produce a cranial bone that matches the bone window perfectly after the repair is essentially indistinguishable from its own cranial bone. The surgery has a high cure rate, but it will also have a high demand on the skill and professionalism of the doctors engaged in doing peek skull in China. Therefore, it is recommended to choose a more authoritative hospital if there is a need for this treatment. To sum up, autologous bone cranial repair is not the best choice for surgery, patients can choose polyetheretherketone material for surgery. Patients do not have to worry that the material will not be compatible with their own tissues, and the material can be customized according to the patient’s condition, and the aesthetic aspect is superior. Patients must find a more authoritative hospital and a physician with more surgical experience before performing the surgery to ensure the completion rate and safety of the surgery.