Osteobond Cranioplasty

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am 32 years old woman. I am interested in skull reshaping surgery because my head is very flat on top. I want to ask if PMMA is also Osteobond? How does Osteobond differ from PMMA? And is it possible for Osteobond to give toxic reactions to the body in future like 40-50 years later? Because I have read somewhere that some Osteobond in orthopedic surgery caused arythmia, blood hypertension and heart attack for old patients. And what will be the approximate price for top of the head augmentation? I will be looking forward to your reply. Thank you for your time and consideration 🙂

A: Thank you for your inquiry. PMMA is a generic name for polymethylmethacrylate, a well known material used in orthopedics as a true bone cement to hold in place joint replacements and is also used as an onlay contouring material in the skull usually under the name Cranioplast. Osteobond is one variation (copolymer) of PMMA but it is a polymethylmethacrylate material. Do not confuse what can happen when such borne cements are injected under pressure inside a long bone with applying it softly on top of the skull bone. Such bodily reactions as you have described do not occur in cranioplasty use.

That being said I have largely abandoned the use of PMMA bone cements for custom silicone skull implants which offer superior shape, smaller incisions for placement and no potential adverse effects on the bone.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana