Madreporic coral for cranial base reconstruction. 8 years experience.
The authors, since 1985, have used 587 Madreporic Coral grafts as bone substitute in a total of 183 patients, among them in 80 cases for repair of cranial base bone defects. They report their long-term results. Partial resorption to about 40% of the initial volume occurred in almost all cases within 8 to 10 months, with complete resorption after about one year. 20% of the coral blocks moved spontaneously or split into pieces, but could easily be withdrawn rhinoscopically through the nostrils. No CSF leakage was noticed afterwards. The local infection rate was only 4%, always close to the basal coral graft. This is lower than the infection rate after using autologous bone harvested from the inner table of the bone flap (20%). Infections were cured by removal of the coral graft. Despite the mentioned draw backs, Madreporic Coral graft implants can be recommended as bone substitute in cranial base surgery: 1. The material simplifies the surgical procedure; 2. Harvesting of autologous bone is no longer necessary; 3. Transmission of infections like AIDS, Hepatitis C or Creutzfeld-Jacob-disease can be avoided with certainty.
Roux
F X
FX
Neurosurgical Department, Centre Hospitalier Sainte Anne, Paris, France.
Brasnu
D
D
Menard
M
M
Devaux
B
B
Nohra
G
G
Loty
B
B
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods*; D005005:Ethmoid Sinus / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018786:Bone Substitutes