Bone autografting of the calvaria and craniofacial skeleton: historical background, surgical results in a series of 15 patients, and review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Although the use of autologous bone for reconstruction of the cranial and facial skeleton underwent a partial reappraisal following the introduction of a vast range of alloplastic materials for this purpose, it has demonstrated definite advantages over the last century and, particularly, during the last decade.


METHODS
Fifteen patients underwent cranial and/or cranio-facial reconstruction using autologous bone grafting in the Department of Neurologic Sciences-Neurosurgery and the Division of Maxillo-Facial Surgery of the Rome "La Sapienza" University between 1987 and 1995. This group of patients consisted of 8 females and 7 males whose average age was 29.5 years (range 7.5 to 59 years, mean age 30). In all these patients cranioplasty and/or cranio-facial reconstruction had been performed to repair bone defects secondary to benign tumors or tumor-like lesions (12 cases), trauma (2 cases), or, in the remaining case, to wound infection after craniotomy for a neurosurgical operation.


RESULTS
The results obtained in a series of 15 patients treated using this method are described with reference to the abundant data published on this topic.


CONCLUSIONS
The mechanical, immunologic, and technical-grafting properties of autologous bone, together with its superior esthetic and psychological effects, probably make it the best material for cranioplasty.
Artico
Marco
M
Department of Pharmacology of Natural Molecules and General Anatomy, University of Rome La Sapienza, Piazza le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Ferrante
Luigi
L
Pastore
Francesco Saverio
FS
Ramundo
Epimenio Orlando
EO
Cantarelli
Davide
D
Scopelliti
Domenico
D
Iannetti
Giorgio
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012886:Skull / Q000637:transplantation*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous / Q000379:methods*