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Galeal tack-up sutures to prevent subgaleal cerebrospinal fluid collection
Won Ho Choi1, Chang Taek Moon, Young-Cho Koh
1Department of Neurosurgery, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
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).
Conclusion:
Galeal tack-up suture is an easy and effective technique in wound closure to prevent postoperative CSF collection.
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