title: Galeal tack-up sutures to prevent subgaleal cerebrospinal fluid collection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Postoperative subgaleal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection is considered as one of the common minor surgical complication which can lead to prolonged hospitalization. We introduce "galeal tack-up suture" to prevent postoperative subgaleal CSF collection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Galeal tack-up suture consists of various surgical techniques which aim to fix galea to cranium in order to prevent CSF pooling in subgaleal space. A total of 87 patients who underwent craniotomy were divided into two groups while closing the wound : group A with galeal tack-up suture and group B with routine wound closure without galeal tack-up suture. The patients were observed for postoperative subgaleal CSF collection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 87 cranitomy cases, galeal tack-up suture was performed in 32 cases and routine wound closure was done in 55 cases. Postoperative subgaleal CSF collection occurred in 13 cases (15%) in which 12 cases occurred in group B patients and 1 case occurred in group A patients (p=0.026).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Galeal tack-up suture is an easy and effective technique in wound closure to prevent postoperative CSF collection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Won Ho
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Chang Taek
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Young-Cho
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Young Il
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Joon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Sang Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Song
keywords: Cerebrospinal fluid leak; Craniotomy; Scalp; Sutures