Woman gets first full-skull 3D printed plastic transplant

A woman underwent a path breaking surgery, part of her skull was replaced with a plastic cranium that was made using a 3D printer, in Utrecht, Holland, three months ago.

According to doctors, brain covering bone is usually about 1.5 cm thick but the 22-year-old woman's was 5cm and caused pressure and sight loss.

Neurologist Dr Ben Verweij said implants used to be made by hand in the operating theatre using a sort of cement which was far from ideal, the Mirror reported.

He said by making use of 3D printing they could make one to the exact size, and this not only had great cosmetic advantages, but patients' brain function often recovered better than using the old method.

Verweij said that the patient has her sight back entirely, is symptom-free and has gone back to work, asserting that it was almost impossible to make out if she's ever had surgery.