Dura mater for soft-tissue augmentation. Evaluation in a rabbit model.

Irradiated human dura mater, a commercially available preparation of dura mater (Tutoplast), and irradiated rabbit dura mater were implanted in subcutaneous pockets in the pinna and forehead of New Zealand white rabbits and evaluated for their usefulness in soft-tissue augmentation at 3 months and 6 months. Postoperatively, no evidence of erythema, purulence, hematoma or seroma formation, wound dehiscence, graft extrusion, or flap necrosis was noted. Irradiated human dura mater was well tolerated by the host and elicited a mild cellular inflammatory response. The graft was well preserved, infiltrated by fibrous connective tissue, and fixed in place in the pinna sites. Forehead grafts were surrounded by a capsule of host tissue and were intact. Dura mater seems to be useful for soft-tissue augmentation. Tutoplast may give good results clinically. Because this represents a short-term evaluation, long-term clinical results are needed to define the potential of dura mater grafts.