Suturing technique and the integrity of dural closures: an in vitro study

The watertight closure of the dura mater is fundamental to intracranial procedures in neurosurgery. Nevertheless, for any given operator and type of suture, it is still not certain which suturing technique affords the most watertight dural closure. We have developed a laboratory model that allows us to compare the pressures at which dural closures leak when different suturing techniques are used.

Human cadaveric dura was secured to a glass cylinder filled with colored saline. By application of force to a bag of saline attached to the cylinder, the pressure at which sutured dural incisions leak can be recorded. Using this method, we have compared the closure of 2-cm dural incisions with 3-0 silk using the following techniques (10 per group): 1) interrupted simple, 2) running simple, 3) running locked, and 4) interrupted vertical mattress. We have also compared the closure of 1- x 3-cm dural windows with cadaveric dura and 3-0 silk using the same suturing techniques (10 per group).

The pressure at which 2-cm linear dural incisions leaked was significantly higher when they were closed with the interrupted simple suturing technique (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference among the different suturing techniques when they were used to close a 1- x 3-cm dural window with a duraplasty. Overall, the pressures at which sutured linear dural incisions leaked were higher than the pressures at which sutured dural windows closed with duraplasties leaked.

In the experimental model described, an interrupted simple suturing technique affords the most watertight dural closure for linear incisions, whereas no suturing technique proved advantageous for the closure of a duraplasty.