[Cell transplantation for a CSF-fistula. Experience with fibrin glue and fibroblasts]

Biomaterials in skull base surgery

Reconstruction materials and techniques for the base of the skull have undergone rapid developments and differentiation in recent years. While mostly autotransplants, collagens or resorbable alloplastic materials are preferred for duraplasties, pronounced organ-specific differences can be observed in the reconstruction of hard tissues. The use of polymethylmethacryl bone cement, once wide-spread, has decreased greatly due to the release of toxic monomers. Bony autotransplants are still used primarily for smaller skull-base defects, intraoperatively formable titanium nets may be also used for larger fronto- or laterobasal reconstructions of bony defects. Defects in visible areas are increasingly closed with preformed titanium or ceramic implants, which are planned and fitted to the individual patient using preoperative CT imaging. At the skull base, this applies especially to reconstructions of the frontal sinus. For extensive reconstructions of the orbita, titanium nets and non-resorbable plastics have proven valuable; in closing smaller defects especially of the orbital floor, resorbable implants based on Polyglactin 901 are also used.

Tissue adhesives in otorhinolaryngology

The development of medical tissue adhesives has a long history without finding an all-purpose tissue adhesive for clinical daily routine. This is caused by the specific demands which are made on a tissue adhesive, and the different areas of application. In otorhinolaryngology, on the one hand, this is the mucosal environment as well as the application on bones, cartilage and periphery nerves. On the other hand, there are stressed regions (skin, oral cavity, pharynx, oesophagus, trachea) and unstressed regions (middle ear, nose and paranasal sinuses, cranial bones). But due to the facts that adhesives can have considerable advantages in assuring surgery results, prevention of complications and so reduction of medical costs/treatment expenses, the search for new adhesives for use in otorhinolaryngology will be continued intensively. In parallel, appropriate application systems have to be developed for microscopic and endoscopic use.

Proliferation rate of human osteoblast-like cells on alloplastic biomaterials and their clinical application for the transnasal duraplasty procedure

The possibility of transmission of slow virus infection (HIV) and Creutzfeld-Jakob disease by cadaveric dura implants makes it necessary to find synthetic, absorbable materials for the reconstruction of the dura mater. Various procedures with autologous or alloplastic material are described. Four commerically available biomaterials were choosen to study the proliferation rate and the biocompatibility of human osteoblast-like cells (HOB-like cells) on 2-dimensional material by biochemical analysis. With a proliferation assay, the viability and the proliferation capacity of osteoblast-like cells were evaluated. A clinical trial was added to study resorbable fleece as one of the previously tested biomaterial in a small patient group (8 patients) to close anterior cranial fossa dura defects. The results of the proliferation assay showed the highest proliferation rate of HOB-like cells on resorbable fleece. All patients in our clinical trial with anterior cranial fossa dura defects were successfully treated with resorbable fleece. There was no evidence for persisting cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea or foreign body reaction after the period of wound healing. The present study demonstrated an excellent biocompatibility of resorbable fleece. The vicryl fleece is an alternative alloplastic material for endonasal closure of defined substantial defects of the dura with cerebrospinal fluid.