title: Cranioplasty using gentamicin-loaded acrylic cement: a test of neurotoxicity.
abstract: Cranioplasty represents a formidable challenge for neuro-surgeons, with a significant morbidity from both early and late wound infections. Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is one of the most widely used materials in this setting. Despite the advantages of this material, such as ease of handling and inert biochemical properties, it is still a foreign body that is prone to infection. We present an animal model using a gentamicin-impregnated PMMA patch to assess the neurotoxicity as well as the efficacy of using this as an alternative material to lessen the infectious morbidity in this clinical setting. In part two of our experiment, we used a PMMA patch of similar weight and surface area in a physiological saline solution to determine the rate of gentamicin elution from the patch. The results obtained appear promising with no evidence of neurotoxicity and warrant further study to assess the clinical efficacy of PMMA in this setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Ronderos
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Wiles
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Ragan
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Dempesy
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Culicchia
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Richardson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D001843:Bone Cements; D004285:Dogs; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008768:Methylmethacrylates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012886:Skull / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements; D005839:Gentamicins; D008768:Methylmethacrylates