Hydroxyapatite bone cement for suboccipital retrosigmoid cranioplasty: A single institution case series.

OBJECTIVE

To report rates of cerebrospinal fluid leak, wound infection, and other complications after repair of retrosigmoid craniotomy with hydroxyapatite bone cement.

METHODS

Retrospective case review at tertiary referral center of patients who underwent retrosigmoid craniotomy from 2013 to 2016 with hydroxyapatite cement cranioplasty.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence of absence of cerebrospinal fluid leak, wound infection, and other complications.

RESULTS

Twenty cases of retrosigmoid craniotomy repaired with hydroxyapatite cement were identified. Median length of follow up was 9.8months. No cases of cerebrospinal fluid leak were identified. One patient developed a wound infection which was thought to be related to a chronic inflammatory response to the implanted dural substitute. No other major complications were noted.

CONCLUSIONS

A method and case series of suboccipital retrosigmoid cranioplasty using hydroxyapatite cement and a are reported. Hydroxyapatite cement cranioplasty is a safe and effective technique for repair of retrosigmoid craniotomy defects.