Reconstruction of growing skull fracture with in situ galeal graft duraplasty and porous polyethylene sheet

High-Density Porous Polyethylene Implant Cranioplasty: A Systematic Review of Outcomes

Porous polyethylene has been widely used in craniofacial reconstruction due to its biomechanical properties and ease of handling. The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review of the literature to summarize outcomes utilizing high-density porous polyethylene (HDPP) implants in cranioplasty. A literature search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases was conducted to identify original studies with HDPP cranioplasty from inception to March 2023. Non-English articles, commentaries, absent indications or outcomes, and nonclinical studies were excluded. Data on patient demographics, indications, defect size and location, outcomes, and patient satisfaction were extracted. Summary statistics were calculated using weighted averages based on the available reported data. A total of 1089 patients involving 1104 cranioplasty procedures with HDPP were identified. Patients' mean age was 44.0 years (range 2 to 83 y). The mean follow-up duration was 32.0 months (range 2 wk to 8 y). Two studies comprising 17 patients (1.6%) included only pediatric patients. Alloplastic cranioplasty was required after treatment of cerebrovascular diseases (50.9%), tumor excision (32.0%), trauma (11.4%), trigeminal neuralgia/epilepsy (3.4%), and others such as abscesses/cysts (1.4%). The size of the defect ranged from 3 to 340 cm 2 . An overall postoperative complication rate of 2.3% was identified, especially in patients who had previously undergone surgery at the same site. When data were available, contour improvement and high patient satisfaction were reported in 98.8% and 98.3% of the patients. HDPP implants exhibit favorable outcomes for reconstruction of skull defects. Higher complication rates may be anticipated in secondary cranioplasty cases.

Growing skull fracture in a child with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION

Growing skull fracture (GSF) is a rare complication of head trauma in the pediatric population, commonly observed in children younger than 3 years.

DISCUSSION

In this report, the authors describe a case of a 3-year-old male child, with clinical features of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), who developed a GSF in frontal bone after a crib fall, treated with duraplasty and cranioplasty with autologous craft. Here, pertinent literature was reviewed with an emphasis on surgical techniques, and correlation with the mentioned syndrome.

CONCLUSION

This is the first case of GSF in association with EDS in the literature. The relevance of the case described concerns the rarity of the condition itself, the atypical presentation, and the intraoperative findings, which showed the important fragility of the dura mater, probably due to EDS. Therefore, this syndrome, besides having influenced the pathogenesis, was also a challenging factor in the surgical treatment.

Cranioplasty for Skull Defects With Polypropylene Abdominal Wall Mesh

OBJECTIVE

Cranioplasty is a well-established common surgery in the practice of neurosurgery and craniofacial surgery. In young patients, complete skull defect closure by bone splitting may be troublesome due to the difficulty to obtain enough bone area. In such cases, sometimes the authors need to use allografts, which may not be widely available in rural practice. In this study, the authors present the series of cranioplasty with polypropylene mesh, which is widely used in abdominal wall closure.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Nine patients with depressed compound skull fracture were treated by performing this technique. Selection criteria were: compound depressed skull fractures in which bones were fragmented in a way not able to be reconstructed with and leaving a skull defect, small-sized or relatively medium-sized skull defects, and skull defects not located on the sharp curvatures of the skull which needs firm bended meshes. All patients were male and their ages ranged between 8 months and 36 years.The skull bone defect was reconstructed with polypropylene abdominal wall mesh, which was sutured circumferentially with the galeal tissue.

RESULTS

Skull defects were successfully treated in all patients. The follow-up period ranged from 4 to 13 months. One patient with a history of alcoholism and neglectance developed a wound infection after 3 weeks of surgery. This patient was treated successfully with intravenous antibiotics without the need to remove the mesh. There were no complications in the remaining 8 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Polypropylene mesh is a cheap and effective material for the reconstruction of small-sized or medium-sized skull defects. It can be a good alternative in rural practice and/or low economic communities, when other cranioplasty materials are not available.

Pediatric Minor Traumatic Brain Injury : Growing Skull Fracture, Traumatic Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage, Concussion

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health issue that causes significant morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. Pediatric minor TBIs are the most common and are widely underreported because not all patients seek medical attention. The specific management of these patients is distinct from that of adult patients because of the different physiologies in these age groups. This article focuses on minor TBIs, particularly growing skull fractures, traumatic cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and concussion.

State-of-Art of Standard and Innovative Materials Used in Cranioplasty

Cranioplasty is the surgical technology employed to repair a traumatic head injury, cerebrovascular disease, oncology resection and congenital anomalies. Actually, different bone substitutes are used, either derived from biological products such as hydroxyapatite and demineralized bone matrix or synthetic ones such as sulfate or phosphate ceramics and polymer-based substitutes. Considering that the choice of the best material for cranioplasty is controversial, linked to the best operation procedure, the intent of this review was to report the outcome of research conducted on materials used for such applications, comparing the most used materials. The most interesting challenge is to preserve the mechanical properties while improving the bioactivity, porosity, biocompatibility, antibacterial properties, lowering thickness and costs. Among polymer materials, polymethylmethacrylate and polyetheretherketone are the most motivating, due to their biocompatibility, rigidity and toughness. Other biomaterials, with ecofriendly attributes, such as polycaprolactone and polylactic acid have been investigated, due to their microstructure that mimic the trabecular bone, encouraging vascularization and cell-cell communications. Taking into consideration that each material must be selected for specific clinical use, the main limitation remains the defects and the lack of vascularization, consequently porous synthetic substitutes could be an interesting way to support a faster and wider vascularization, with the aim to improve patient prognosis.

Growing skull fractures of the orbital roof: a multicentric experience with 28 patients

BACKGROUND

Growing skull fracture (GSF) is a rare condition that may complicate pediatric head trauma. Patients may present with delayed-onset neurological manifestations.

AIM

This study aims to highlight the different presentations, methods of evaluation, treatment modalities, and outcomes in patients with orbital roof GSF.

METHODS

This retrospective multicentric cohort study reviewed the hospital records of children with GSF who presented at the Craniomaxillofacial Plastic Surgery Department, and Neurosurgery Department with Otorhinolaryngology Department (Maxillofacial unit), from 2011 to 2020. The collected data included age, gender, delay, manifestations, findings of imaging techniques, surgical treatment, complications, and satisfaction of patients' parents.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight patients with orbital roof GSF were included in this study. Most of the patients (82.1%) were boys, and the mean (SD) age was 5 (2) years old. Head trauma was caused by falls in all cases. Clinical manifestations included eyelid swelling (75%), pulsatile proptosis (25%), headache (17.9%), and seizures (10.7%). The mean (SD) diameter of bony defects was 24.3 (8.7) mm. Duraplasty alone was performed in 57.1%, while dura-cranioplasty was done in 42.9% of patients. Dural reconstruction was done using pericranial graft in 82.1% and artificial grafts in 17.9% of patients. Most of the parents (95%) were absolutely satisfied. No mortalities or recurrence of symptoms were recorded. The median follow-up period after surgery was 3.9 years.

CONCLUSION

Orbital roof GSF should be considered among the differential diagnoses in pediatric patients with history of head trauma presenting with ocular and/or neurological manifestations. Duraplasty is mandatory in all cases, whereas cranioplasty is required mainly in cases with large bony defects more than 25 mm. Prognosis in most patients was good both subjectively and objectively.

Cranioplasty for Skull Defect With Polypropylene Abdominal Wall Mesh

ABSTRACT

Cranioplasty is a routine procedure in the practice in neurosurgery and craniofacial surgery. For the closure of the cranial defect, it may be difficult or impossible to split the bone sufficiently to obtain enough bone for complete closure of the defect in younger children. Thus, sometimes there is the need to use allografts, which may not be widely available in rural practice. We present 2 cases of cranioplasty with widely available and used polypropylene abdominal wall mesh. To add rigidity to the construct, the mesh was organized in a multilayered fashion. Postoperative follow-up showed good functional and cosmetic results.

Autogenous Bone Cranioplasty: Review of a 42-Year Experience by a Single Surgeon

BACKGROUND

Autogenous bone is frequently espoused as the gold standard material for cranioplasty procedures, yet alloplastic cranioplasty continues to persist in the search, presumably, for a simpler technique. Although short-term outcomes can be successful using foreign materials, long-term follow-up in these patients often demonstrates increased rates of failure because of exposure or late infection. Autogenous bone grafts, however, integrate and revascularize, and are thus more resistant to infection than alloplastic materials.

METHODS

This is a retrospective review of all patients that underwent reconstructive cranioplasty for full-thickness defects, as performed by the senior author (S.A.W.) between 1975 and 2018. All procedures were performed with autogenous bone.

RESULTS

One hundred fifty-four patients met criteria for inclusion in the report. Cranioplasties were performed for both congenital and secondary indications. Split calvaria was used in 115 patients (74.7 percent), rib graft was used in 12 patients (7.8 percent), iliac crest graft was used in 10 patients (6.5 percent), and combinations of donor-site grafts were used in 17 patients (11.0 percent). In the entire series, none of the patients suffered from complications related to infection of either the donor site or transferred bone graft. None of the patients required secondary operations to fill in defects created by the postoperative resorption.

CONCLUSIONS

Although autologous bone is widely considered the gold standard material for cranioplasty procedures, some argue against its use, mainly citing unpredictable resorption as the purported disadvantage. However, it is less susceptible to infection, and results in fewer long-term complications than alloplastic materials. There is no alloplastic material that has matched these outcomes, and thus autogenous bone should be considered as the primary option for cranioplasty procedures.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, IV.

Prevention of recurrence post leptomeningeal cyst repair

Leptomeningeal cysts, which are cystic collections filled with cerebrospinal fluid, are rare complications following pediatric head trauma and surgical correction of craniosynostosis. These cysts develop due to cerebrospinal fluid pulsations and brain growth that cause expansion of the dural tears. Although primary repair of the dural defect is the definitive treatment, the risk of cyst recurrence remains. Factors that increase this risk include syndromic craniosynostosis, hydrocephalus, increased intracranial pressure, and inadequate duraplasty/cranioplasty. Here, we report the successful treatment of a child with a complex leptomeningeal cyst on one hemisphere, Crouzon syndrome, and hydrocephalus who showed no cyst recurrence over 2 years of follow-up. We have also reviewed the literature for predictors of post-repair cyst recurrence and preventive surgical techniques in patients with high risk of recurrence.

Application of COMPONT Medical Adhesive Glue for Tension-Reduced Duraplasty in Decompressive Craniotomy

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the application of medical adhesive glue for tension-reduced duraplasty in decompressive craniotomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 56 cases were enrolled for this study from Jan 2013 to May 2015. All patients underwent decompressive craniotomy and the dura was repaired in all of them with tension-reduced duraplasty using the COMPONT medical adhesive to glue artificial dura together. The postoperative complications and the healing of dura mater were observed and recorded. RESULTS No wound infection, epidural or subdural hematoma, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, or other complications associated with the procedure occurred, and there were no allergic reactions to the COMPONT medical adhesive glue. The second-phase surgery of cranioplasty was performed at 3 to 6 months after the decompressive craniotomy in 32 out of the 56 cases. During the cranioplasty we observed no adherence of the artificial dura mater patch to the skin flap, no residual COMPONT glue, or hydropic or contracture change of tissue at the surgical sites. Additionally, no defect or weakening of the adherence between the artificial dura mater patch and the self dura matter occurred. CONCLUSIONS COMPONT medical adhesive glue is a safe and reliable tool for tension-reduced duraplasty in decompressive craniotomy.

Materials and techniques used in cranioplasty fixation: A review

Cranioplasty is the surgical repair of a deficiency or deformity of the skull. The purpose of cranioplasty is to provide protection for the brain following cranial surgery, and to offer relief to psychological disadvantages while increasing social performance. There are several materials that had been used for cranioplasty but an ideal product has yet to be developed, hence the ongoing research into biologic and non-biologic alternatives to the existing materials. This article critiques the products currently used for cranioplasty in order to facilitate the development of new materials, which can improve patient outcomes.

Reconstruction after retrosigmoid approaches using autologous fat graft-assisted Medpor Titan cranioplasty: assessment of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leaks and headaches in 60 cases

BACKGROUND

Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks and headaches remain potential complications after retrosigmoid approaches for lesions in the posterior fossa and cerebellopontine angle. The authors describe a simple repair technique with an autologous fat graft-assisted Medpor Titan cranioplasty and investigate the incidence of postoperative CSF leaks and headaches using this technique.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was conducted on all cases (n = 60) of retrosigmoid craniectomy from September 2009 to May 2014 in patients who underwent fat graft-assisted cranioplasty. After obtaining a watertight dural closure and sealing off any visible mastoid air cells with bone wax, an autologous fat graft was placed over the dural suture line and up against the waxed-off air cells. The fat graft filled the retrosigmoid cranial defect and was then bolstered with a Medpor Titan (titanium mesh embedded in porous polyethylene) cranioplasty. A postoperative mastoid pressure dressing was applied for 48 h, and prophylactic lumbar drainage was not used. Factors examined in this study included postoperative CSF leak (incisional, rhinorrhea, otorrhea), pseudomeningocele formation, incidence and severity of postoperative headache, length of hospital stay, and length of follow-up.

RESULTS

No patients developed postoperative CSF leaks (0 %), pseudomeningoceles (0 %), or new-onset postoperative headaches (0 %) with the described repair technique. There were no cases of graft site morbidity such as hematoma or wound infection. Mean duration of postoperative hospital stay was 3.8 days (range 2-10 days). Mean postoperative follow-up was 12.4 months (range 2.0-41.1 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Our multilayer repair technique with a fat graft-assisted Medpor Titan cranioplasty appears effective in preventing postoperative CSF leaks and new-onset postoperative headaches after retrosigmoid approaches. Postoperative lumbar drainage may not be necessary.

Split cranial bone grafting in children younger than 3 years old: debunking a surgical myth

BACKGROUND

In cranioplasty patients split cranial bone provides excellent structural support and fundamentally "replaces like with like." However, traditional teaching in craniofacial surgery is that cranial bone cannot be split before the age of 3 years because of the lack of diploic space. The authors have found this not to be the case and describe their experience with splitting cranial bone in children with craniosynostosis younger than 3 years.

METHODS

The authors completed a retrospective review of 418 cranioplasties performed between 1997 and 2013 by a single surgeon on patients younger than 3 years with syndromic and nonsyndromic craniosynostosis. Average patient age at the time of the procedure was 328 days. The youngest patient was 58 days old.

RESULTS

Of the 418 cranial procedures performed in this study, cranial bone could be split and used as bone graft in every case. Although the presence of Lückenschädel prevented a complete split of the inner table from the outer table of the bone flap, split cranial bone grafting could still be performed, providing significant grafting material to foster reconstruction. No complications from split cranial harvest were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Contrary to popular belief and the misconception perpetuated by the Plastic Surgery In-Service Examination, the cranium of children younger than 3 years can indeed be safely and predictably split between the inner and outer cortex. This important finding provides the craniofacial surgeon with a valuable, expanded source of rigid bone for cranial vault remodeling in the pediatric patient population.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, IV.

Cranioplasty: Review of materials and techniques

Cranioplasty is the surgical intervention to repair cranial defects. The aim of cranioplasty is not only a cosmetic issue; also, the repair of cranial defects gives relief to psychological drawbacks and increases the social performances. Many different types of materials were used throughout the history of cranioplasty. With the evolving biomedical technology, new materials are available to be used by the surgeons. Although many different materials and techniques had been described, there is still no consensus about the best material, and ongoing researches on both biologic and nonbiologic substitutions continue aiming to develop the ideal reconstruction materials. In this article, the principle materials and techniques of cranioplasty are reviewed.

Preservation of the temporal muscle during the frontotemporoparietal approach for decompressive craniectomy: technical note

BACKGROUND

In patients undergoing decompressive craniectomy, resection and detachment of the temporal muscle produces esthetic and functional damage, due to atrophy of the frontal portion of the temporal muscle in the temporal fossa. We have performed en-block temporal muscle detachment in decompressive craniectomy patients to avoid esthetic and functional damage to the temporal muscle.

METHODS

Twenty-one patients underwent decompressive craniectomy using a frontotemporoparietal approach. Through a three-leaf clover flap skin incision, the temporal muscle was detached en-block and overturned antero-inferiorly conjoined with the frontal myocutaneous flap. A decompressive craniectomy and duraplasty were performed. A polyethylene sheet was added to prevent adherence of the temporal muscle to the dura mater.

RESULTS

The decompressive craniectomy was effective in all patients. When subsequent cranioplasty was performed, the temporal muscle was easily repositioned. No complications resulted from the en-block temporal muscle detachment or the use of the polyethylene sheet. In 18 patients eligible for clinical and radiological follow-up, excellent (n = 4) or good (n = 14) esthetic results were detected. Chewing ability is considered normal by all patients.

CONCLUSION

Although it requires that the patient undergo two surgical procedures, en-block detachment of the temporal muscle during decompressive craniectomy allows good esthetic and functional results.

Use of magnetic resonance imaging to identify the edge of a dural tear in an infant with growing skull fracture: a case study

PURPOSE

Growing skull fractures can be a challenging surgical problem facing pediatric neurosurgeons. The goal of this manuscript was to describe an effective surgical method used to treat a growing skull fracture.

METHODS

We present a case study of a 2-month-old boy who fell from his mother's arms and hit his head on the floor; he underwent X-ray, magnetic resonance (MR), and computed tomography (CT) imaging before cranioplasty with dural plasty.

RESULTS

X-ray performed on admission revealed a diastatic fracture with a gap of 8 mm in the right frontal bone and a linear fracture in the right occipital bone. X-ray performed 37 days after injury demonstrated that the gap had increased to 25 mm, and the patient was diagnosed with a growing skull fracture of the right parietal bone. Cranioplasty with dural plasty was performed on day 39. A combination of MR and CT images enabled the edge of the dural tear to be plotted on a three-dimensional image of the skull, and this was used to estimate the location of the edge of the dural tear on the scalp.

CONCLUSIONS

We achieved excellent outcomes in terms of bony coverage and dural plasty. The combination of MR and CT images may be recommended for surgical repair of growing skull fracture in children.

Intraosseous meningioma: a rare tumor reconstructed with porous polyethylene

A 45-year-old woman described the pain and the swelling at the left frontoparietal region. No significant findings were noted on physical examination, except a heterogeneous palpable lesion at the described region. Computed tomographic scan revealed an expansive bone lesion with homogeneous density, whereas magnetic resonance imaging revealed similar findings with no contrast enhancement. The lesion was totally resected, and cranioplasty with a porous polyethylene sheet (Medpor Biomaterial; Porex Surgical, Newnan, GA) was achieved. Histopathologic examination revealed an intraosseous meningioma. As far as we know, this case is the first case, in which total excision of the interosseous meningioma is followed by reconstruction with Medpor.