[BRIDGED DURAL SUSPENSION FOR CRANIOPLASTY BY USING THREE- DIMENSIONAL MOULDING TITANIUM MESH]

To investigate the value of bridged dural suspension for cranioplasty by using three- dimensional moulding titanium mesh.

A retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 156 patients with skull defects, who underwent cranioplasty using three-dimensional moulding titanium mesh between April 2012 and October 2015. Bridged dural suspension was performed in 73 patients (bridging group) and routine cross mesh dural suspension in 83 patients (routine group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, and causes, duration, and area of skull defects between 2 groups (P > 0.05), and they were comparable. The operation time, hospitalization time, and postoperative complication were recorded for analysis.

The operation time was (86.7±13.5) minutes in bridging group and was (84.3±16.3) minutes in routine group, showing no significant difference (t=1.061, P=0.290); but hospitalization time of bridging group [(16.8±2.7) days] was significantly shorter than that of routine group [(18.7±5.7) days] (t=-2.661, P=0.009). Postoperative complications occurred in 16 patients of routine group (19.3%), including epidural hydrops in 13 cases, epidural hematoma in 2 cases, and epidural infection in 1 case, while epidural hydrops occurred in 4 cases of bridging group (5.5%). There was significant difference in complication rate between 2 groups (χ²=6.616, P=0.010). All patients were followed up 5-46 months (mean, 25.2 months). The satisfactory cosmetic results of the skull were obtained, and CT images showed good coverage of defect.

Bridged dural suspension for cranioplasty is more simple and effective than routine cross mesh suspension, and it is beneficial to reduction of postoperative complications.