Abstract:

bone defects in children with neurofibromatosis type 1（NF1）. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 5 pediatric patients with NF1 and cranial bone defects treated at our hospital， including 2 males and 3 females， with an average age of 9 years. One case involved a frontal defect， while 4 involved occipital defects. All patients presented with adjacent plexiform neurofibromas and underwent simultaneous resection of the neurofibromas and cranioplasty using 3D-printed polyetheretherketone （PEEK） implants. The pathogenesis and key points in the diagnosis and treatment of this condition are discussed in conjunction with relevant literature. Results All 5 patients underwent successful surgeries with no postoperative complications such as infection or hemorrhage. Short-term follow-up revealed well-positioned implants with no signs of displacement or recurrence， and satisfactory restoration of cranial contour was achieved. Conclusion Cranial bone defects associated with NF1 are relatively rare， predominantly occurring in the occipital region and often related to plexiform neurofibromas. For pediatric patients with clear surgical indications， personalized cranioplasty using 3D-printed PEEK materials， combined with simultaneous management of associated lesions， represents a safe and effective treatment

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