A cranioplasty recovery story
Going to work, walking, eating and exercising is the daily norm for many. Mr.Thawatchai was no stranger to these activities which we all take for granted. Before his accident, he led a typical life, working at a private company and enjoying marathon running in his spare time. But everything changed overnight when a motorcycle accident caused a severe head injury. Mr. Thawatchai was rushed to the hospital where the doctors determined that an emergency craniectomy, a procedure which involves opening the skull to relieve internal bleeding, had to be performed. Waking up, not remembering anything before the operation, Mr.Thawatchai’s world was, ‘Turned upside down’. He does not remember much from the days following the accident, but when he finally regained consciousness, he realised that a large part of his skull was missing.
The beginning of Mr. Thawatchai's journey
During his recovery, Mr. Thawatchai could not perform daily activities independently. He noted that all of the sudden he was back to being taken care of by his parents, something that you would never expect if you had been living a normal fit life running marathons just a few weeks prior. There was this persistent struggle to do the most mundane tasks.
After 20 days of recovery, Mr. Thawatchai's condition improved enough for him to return to work. However, he faced challenges performing simple tasks due to muscle weakness on the left side of his body, the side of the craniectomy. He also struggled with balance issues and persistent headaches whenever he bent his head down. Additionally, he experienced memory lapses, which made him worry about his future quality of life.
The journey of "Conquering fear with courage"
Running marathons was a significant part of Mr. Thawatchai's life, and his biggest wish was to regain his health to run, exercise, and support his family fully. His wish was cut short by a daily array of headaches as a result of the craniectomy. After his craniectomy, he could only run 2-3 kilometres, a stark contrast to his previous 5-10 kilometres a day. This marked the beginning of his journey to "conquer the fear" of undergoing another surgery and finding the courage to trust Meticuly's titanium skull implant for a better, healthier life, ready to pursue his marathon dreams again.
Determined to overcome his post-surgical challenges, Mr. Thawatchai discussed options with his medical team, the alternatives were an acrylic option made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and standard sized titanium meshes that required intraoperative bending. Conquering his fear and doubt would not just take the efforts of his own courage but also an advancement in biomedical technology. Meticuly, Thailand’s leading 3D printed Titanium medical device manufacturer, was the perfect choice for Mr.Thawatchai. Meticuly’s AI-powered technology was effectively able to construct a precise implant required for Mr.Thawatchai. Above all, Meticuly’s implant would last a lifetime with just one procedure.
Success with 3D printed titanium mesh cranioplasty
The cranioplasty surgery allowed Thawatchai to recover and return to normal life quickly. Just one day post-surgery, he could walk and handle objects normally without dizziness or headaches, and his previously weak hand regained its dexterity. Within two weeks, he resumed marathon training, running up to 10 kilometres. These days, he is back to running up to 45 kilometres.
Finally, Thawatchai encourages others considering Meticuly’s cranial implant, saying, "There's no reason for you not to choose Meticuly’s titanium implants." They offer the best chance to live happily and engage in beloved activities again. Life without the ability to pursue your passions isn't truly living.
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