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Cranioplasty for Skull Defect With Polypropylene Abdominal Wall Mesh
Bashar Abuzayed1, Husesein Al-Abadi1, Osama Jamous1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Al-Bashir Governmental Hospital, Amman.
Insights
Polypropylene abdominal wall mesh offers a viable solution for cranioplasty, especially in pediatric cases where autologous bone is insufficient. This readily available material provides good functional and cosmetic outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Craniofacial Surgery
- Biomaterials
Background:
- Cranioplasty is a common neurosurgical and craniofacial procedure.
- Obtaining sufficient autologous bone for cranial defect closure can be challenging in young children.
- Allografts, an alternative, may have limited availability, particularly in rural settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the use of polypropylene abdominal wall mesh as an alternative material for cranioplasty.
- To assess the feasibility and outcomes of using multilayered polypropylene mesh for cranial defect repair.
Main Methods:
- Two cases of cranioplasty were performed using polypropylene abdominal wall mesh.
- The mesh was arranged in a multilayered fashion to enhance rigidity.
- Postoperative outcomes were monitored for functional and cosmetic results.
Main Results:
- Successful cranioplasty was achieved in both presented cases using polypropylene mesh.
- The multilayered mesh construct provided adequate rigidity for cranial defect closure.
- Good functional and cosmetic results were observed during postoperative follow-up.
Conclusions:
- Polypropylene abdominal wall mesh is a practical and accessible alternative material for cranioplasty.
- This technique can yield satisfactory functional and cosmetic outcomes, addressing limitations of autologous bone and allografts.
Abstract:
Cranioplasty is a routine procedure in the practice in neurosurgery and craniofacial surgery. For the closure of the cranial defect, it may be difficult or impossible to split the bone sufficiently to obtain enough bone for complete closure of the defect in younger children. Thus, sometimes there is the need to use allografts, which may not be widely available in rural practice. We present 2 cases of cranioplasty with widely available and used polypropylene abdominal wall mesh. To add rigidity to the construct, the mesh was organized in a multilayered fashion. Postoperative follow-up showed good functional and cosmetic results.
