Controlled bending of cranial bone grafts: a simple surgical technique.

The cranium serves as a primary bone graft donor site in reconstructive craniofacial surgery. However, the mechanical properties of cranial bone predispose to fragmentation when excessive bending forces are applied, or to a return to the original shape when bending forces are insufficient. The precise and sustained contouring of cranial bone therefore remains a practical clinical problem. This paper describes a simple surgical technique which relies upon the application of a miniplate to the cortical surface of the cranial bone segment prior to bending. The miniplate serves to reinforce the segment, allowing accurate shaping of cranial bone and maintenance of the newly acquired contour.