[Problems in the development of a comprehensive three-dimensional databank of the human skull for the preoperative preparation of an exact implant for the treatment of bone defects].
Various human skulls were scanned with a laser scanner. Impressive Landmarks of the skull were determined and tested to be comparable stored in a uniform coordinate system for subsequent 3-d reconstruction. The Rhinion, the Nasion, the Spina nasalis anterior, the Prosthion, and the Opisthokranion were found to be very qualified for the adjustment in the median plane. The frontal plane was defined by the Rhinion and the Spina nasalis anterior. The Mastoidealia, the Zygomaxillaria and the Orbitalia were used to align the skull in the horizontal plane. The qualification of the database as a fundamental part for the comparison of human skulls and for the discovery of similarities to patient skulls with bone defects is demonstrated by means of 2 clinical cases. A subsequent result is the application to manufacture fitting implants of biocompatible materials for covering huge side-overlapping bone destructions.