Use of calcium-based bone cements in the repair of large, full-thickness cranial defects: a caution.
BACKGROUND
Calcium-based bone cements have increased in popularity for the correction of craniofacial contour defects. The authors' experience with them in more than 120 patients has resulted in the establishment of strict criteria for their use. Although the authors' overall complication rate with these cements has been low, certain patient groups have an unacceptably high complication rate. The authors describe their experience with the repair of large, full-thickness cranial defects using calcium-based bone cements.


METHODS
The study group comprised 16 patients who underwent correction of large, full-thickness (>25 cm2) skull defects. The surgical technique included reconstruction of the floor of the defect with rigid fixation to the surrounding native bone, interposition of the cement to ideal contour, and closure of the defect.


RESULTS
The mean patient age was 35 years (range, 1 to 69 years). The mean defect area was 66.4 cm2 (range, 30 to 150 cm2). Cases were equally divided between BoneSource and Norian CRS. The mean amount of bone cement used was 80 g. Follow-up varied between 1 and 6 years (mean, 3 years). Major complications occurred in eight of 16 patients, with one occurring as late as 6 years postoperatively. Complications occurred throughout the course of review, indicating that they were not caused by a learning curve.


CONCLUSIONS
Because of the unacceptably high complication rate with the use of calcium-based bone cements in large skull defects, the authors believe that their use is contraindicated and have returned to using autogenous split skull cranial bone reconstruction for these patients.
Zins
James E
JE
Cleveland, Ohio From the Department of Plastic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Moreira-Gonzalez
Andrea
A
Papay
Frank A
FA
D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006882:Hydroxyapatites / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012886:Skull / Q000601:surgery*; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013526:Surgical Mesh
D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D006882:Hydroxyapatites; C496047:Norian SRS Cement; C475044:hydroxyapatite cement; D002118:Calcium