OBJECTIVE: To summarize the classification, property of skull repair material and the processing of related complications in the application of repairing and remodeling the skull.METHODS: The PubMed database (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed) and CNKI Database (www.cnki.net/index.htm) was searched by the first author using key words of "codubix, synmesh, and bone cement" both in English and Chinese. Articles whose content is related to the types, property, biocompatibility and its application effect of skull repairing materials were selected. In the same field, the articles published by authoritative journals or different races were preferred. The repetitive or obsolete literatures were excluded. After that 26 documents were included in this paper.RESULTS: The bone cement exhibited good histocompatibility, however, it is difficult to be absorbed, thus, it only be used for repairing part of skull defects. The study found that titanium had good biocompatibility and could combine with the skull. Its application had a promising prospect, but there are many inadequacies. With the continuous deepening of bio-engineering, bone tissue engineering, and cartilage tissue engineering, it will provide a broader perspective for the study of skull repair materials.CONCLUSION: There are many kinds of materials for skull repairing, and this paper only introduces some of the widely used ones. Actually, the selection of repairing materials should consider the pathogenetic condition, economic condition, local equipment and technical levels. If possible, titanium mesh and titanium screw are preferred, which is characterized by easy operation, few complication and beautiful appearance: When using autogenous bone or bone cements, if related complications can be reduced and handled effectively, the results will be satisfactory.

Bovine pericardium is mainly composed of collagen which has many good properties of extracellular matrix. This in vitro study was performed to quantitatively investigate and compare the degradation behavior of the bovine pericardial, which were modified with different methods. The purpose is to find out one method that presents not only the degradation regularity of material but also minimum antigenicity, so that bovine pericardium can be used as a well degradable guide tissue regeneration material. The results of the experiments showed that the bovine pericardium treated with ethanol is more appreciated than that treated with epoxy cross-linking agent or glutaraldehyde. The mensuration of protein and special amino acid may be a useful base of constructing a mathematic model for further researches on the rate of degradation of bovine pericardium.
Animals ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Bioprosthesis ; Cattle ; Cross-Linking Reagents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Hydroxyproline ; analysis ; In Vitro Techniques ; Materials Testing ; Pericardium ; chemistry ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Prosthesis Design ; Proteins ; analysis ; Surface Properties