Bone flap fixation with titanium clamps: a new technique.
BACKGROUND
Craniotomy bone flaps are replaced for both cosmetic and protective purposes. The purpose of this study was to determine the facility, strength, timing, and cost effectiveness of an alternative system for securing bone flaps. The system consists of titanium discs that clamp the bone flap to the skull edge.


RESULTS
Ten cadaver craniotomy flaps each were reattached with either 24-gauge wire, miniplates, or titanium clamps. The titanium clamp system required significantly less time to fix than either wire or miniplates. The clamps were stronger than wire and cost less than miniplates.


CONCLUSIONS
The titanium clamp system is a reasonable alternative to present craniotomy fixation methods with respect to ease of use, time consumption, strength, and relative cost.
Estin
D
D
Department of Neurosurgery, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Troffkin
N
N
Heilman
C B
CB
D003399:Craniotomy / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators / Q000191:economics; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014025:Titanium
D014025:Titanium