CRANIOFACIAL BONE - 3D Bioprinting and Nanotechnology in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine - page 211

FIGURE 10.1 Autologous bone grafts for craniofacial reconstruction.
Current methods of repairing massive craniofacial bone loss defects require the use of vascularized bone flaps.
Several CT images are shown depicting various types of craniofacial defects and treatment approaches. (A, B)
A large circular defect in the calvarium defect (A), is bridged with two ribs to provide protection to the brain
(B). (C, D) Surgical planning to repair a large region of the maxilla. In this case, the fibula will be cut into
multiple pieces and combined as shown in (D) to mimic the structure of the maxilla. (E, F) A mandibular defect
reconstructed with a segment of the pelvis (pelvic segment is denoted by the asterisk). In all cases the native
craniofacial geometry is not well recapitulated and the approaches result in severe donor-site morbidity.
majority of bone are highly responsive to their mechanical environment ( Hung et al., 2013 ). Scaffolds
that recapitulate the appropriate anatomical geometries will also help to provide suitable mechanical
environments for cells within the tissues.