title: New method of pediatric cranioplasty for skull defect utilizing polylactic acid absorbable plates and carbonated apatite bone cement.
abstract: Cranial defect repair in the pediatric population requires a variety of special considerations. The pediatric skull has a dynamic nature that prohibits the use of rigid fixation, which is commonly applied in the adult population. A technique using a combination of polylactic acid plates and carbonated apatite bone cement has been devised by our group. Skull defects of varying sizes were repaired in 34 pediatric patients. Patients were examined on postoperative day 3 and at 3 months via three-dimensional computed tomography scans. Patients have been followed up to 60 months after surgery without complications or failures to date. This method benefits the pediatric patients undergoing cranioplasty by minimizing the insertion of long-term foreign bodies and allows the possibility for transformation of this construct into viable tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, North Shore University-Long Island Jewish Health System, New Hyde Park, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Anders J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Rob D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Dickerman
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000293:Adolescent; D001031:Apatites / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001860:Bone Plates; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005781:Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007223:Infant; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012886:Skull / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D001031:Apatites; D001843:Bone Cements; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D006490:Hemostatics; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); C030782:carboapatite