title: Cranial bone fixation in infants and children.
abstract: A technique is described for fixing cranial bone flaps with absorbable sutures and bone shims. This technique is a cost-efficient method of rapidly achieving rigid structural stability with excellent cosmetic results. The kerf created by the craniotome is bridged at multiple sites by bone chips harvested from the inner edge of the bone flap. Solid bony union is documented on histopathological analysis. The technique requires no special tools and avoids the problems associated with the use of plates, screws and wire.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and The Children's Hospital, Denver, CO 80218, USA.
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Winston
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000601:surgery; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012886:Skull / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013537:Sutures