Durometer for measurement of intracranial pressure

The tensity of the skin over a supratentorial craniectomy was measured with a durometer placed on the skin flap. Tensity values were obtained on 124 occasions in 28 patients in whom lumbar or intracranial pressure was being recorded simultaneously. Corrections were made for differences in the level of the durometer and the level at which the device measuring lumbar or intracranial pressure was placed. The skin tensity and lumbar or intracranial pressure were then correlated and the correlation studied statistically. It was found that the durometer could be used to predict quantitatively the intracranial pressure with a very low standard error (estimation of +/- 28 mmH2O). An experimental model confirmed these findings. The system was less accurate at pressure below 68 mmH2O and above 680 mmH2O.