Simplified Dural Reconstruction Procedure Using Biocompatible Polyglycolic Acid Felt with Autologous Abdominal Fat Grafts after a Transpetrosal Approach.

BACKGROUND

Dural reconstruction after transpetrosal approaches is complicated because complete primary closure of presigmoid dura mater is difficult to achieve. To address this problem, we use biocompatible polyglycolic acid (PGA) felt (Durawave) to reconstruct dural defects. To evaluate the use of PGA felt in dural reconstruction, we compared these results with those after conventional duraplasty using autologous fascia grafts.

METHODS

We retrospectively surveyed all cases involving a transpetrosal approach reported since 2013. In the conventional procedure, autologous fascia was fixed over the dural defect using stay sutures; any remaining dead space was obliterated by placing abdominal fat grafts. Since April 2017, we have used PGA felt instead of fascia.

RESULTS

Of the 37 cases identified, 27 were reconstructed according to the conventional procedure, and the remaining 10 cases were reconstructed using PGA felt. Among the 27 conventional cases, 8 involved cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-related complications, including 3 cases of rhinorrhea and 5 cases of subcutaneous fluid collection, and 2 cases (7%) required repair surgery. Of the 10 cases involving PGA felt, 1 case (10%) involved subcutaneous fluid collection and required repair surgery, and whereas the remaining 9 cases had no evidence of CSF leakage. In addition, the median dural reconstruction time using PGA felt was 9 minutes, significantly shorter than that when autologous fascia was used (median, 44 minutes).

CONCLUSIONS

Using PGA felt for presigmoid dura simplifies dural reconstruction because it obviates the need to suture in a deep field. PGA felt has the potential to prevent CSF-related complications after transpetrosal approaches.