OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical application value of mineralized collagen (MC) bone scaffolds in repairing various types of skull defects, and to assess the suitability and repair effectiveness of porous MC (pMC) scaffolds, compact MC (cMC) scaffolds, and biphasic MC composite (bMC) scaffolds. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 105 patients who underwent skull defect repair with pMC, cMC, or bMC between October 2014 and April 2022. The cohort included 63 males and 42 females, ranging in age from 3 months to 55 years, with a median age of 22.7 years. Causes of defects included craniectomy after traumatic surgery in 37 cases, craniotomy in 58 cases, tumor recurrence or intracranial hemorrhage surgery in 10 cases. Appropriate MC scaffolds were selected based on the patient's skull defect size and age: 58 patients with defects <3 cm² underwent skull repair with pMC (pMC group), 45 patients with defects ≥3 cm² and aged ≥5 years underwent skull repair with cMC (cMC group), and 2 patients with defects ≥3 cm² and aged <5 years underwent skull repair with bMC (bMC group). Postoperative clinical follow-up and imaging examinations were conducted to evaluate bone regeneration, the biocompatibility of the repair materials, and the occurrence of complications. RESULTS: All 105 patients were followed up 3-24 months, with an average of 13 months. No material-related complication occurred in any patient, including skin and subcutaneous tissue infection, excessive ossification, and rejection. CT scans at 6 months postoperatively showed bone growth in all patients, and CT scans at 12 months postoperatively showed complete or near-complete resolution of bone defects in all patients, with 58 cases repaired in the pMC group. The CT values of the defect site and the contralateral normal skull bone in the pMC group at 12 months postoperatively were (1 123.74±93.64) HU and (1 128.14±92.57) HU, respectively, with no significant difference ( t=0.261, P=0.795). CONCLUSION MC exhibits good biocompatibility and osteogenic induction ability in skull defect repair. pMC is suitable for repairing small defects, cMC is suitable for repairing large defects, and bMC is suitable for repairing pediatric skull defects.
Humans ; Tissue Scaffolds ; Male ; Female ; Collagen ; Retrospective Studies ; Adult ; Child ; Adolescent ; Middle Aged ; Child, Preschool ; Skull/surgery* ; Young Adult ; Infant ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods* ; Tissue Engineering/methods* ; Craniotomy/methods* ; Bone Regeneration ; Treatment Outcome ; Porosity ; Biocompatible Materials

Treatment of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is relatively straightforward, however, there is still some debate regarding the best strategy for treatment. The most practical recommendations of up to date were identified by a review of literature. The author reviewed the literature on CSDH management from the past to now to identify the best methods. Till 1970s, craniotomy was the most commonly used method. Burr hole (BH) became the most preferred method from 1980s. In 1977, twist drill (TD) craniostomy was introduced. Closed system drainage after a BH or a TD became the most frequently used surgical method. Although nonsurgical treatment is often successful, trephination has more advantages, such as rapid resolution of the symptoms and short period of hospitalization. Nonsurgical treatment is possible in asymptomatic patients with a small CSDH. For the symptomatic patients with CSDH, trephination is the treatment of choice, either by BH or TD. In gray zone between surgery and medical treatment, shared decision making can be an ideal approach. For the recurrent CSDHs, repeated trephination is still effective for patients with a low risk of recurrence. If the risk of recurrence is high, additional management would be helpful. For the refractory CSDHs, it is necessary to obliterate the subdural space.
Craniocerebral Trauma ; Craniotomy ; Decision Making ; Drainage ; Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Methods ; Recurrence ; Subdural Space ; Trephining

Direct puncture and embolization of the transverse sinus (TS) for treatment of dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) is typically performed with coils with or without glue. We report a case of DAVF at the left TS that was treated with Onyx embolization via direct puncture of the TS. A 75-year-old woman presented with tremor, festinating gait, and dysarthria. A left TS-DAVF with retrograde superior sagittal sinus and cortical venous reflux (Cognard type IIa+b) was identified on cerebral angiography, and both TSs were occluded with thrombi. We considered that achieving complete cure by transvenous embolization via the femoral vein or transarterial embolization via occipital feeders would be difficult. Thus, we performed a small craniotomy at the occipital bone to puncture the TS. The midportion of the TS was directly punctured with a 21-G microneedle under fluoroscopic guidance. We inserted a 5-F sheath into the TS. A microcatheter was then navigated into the affected sinus. Coils were placed through the microcatheter to support Onyx formation by reducing the pressure of shunting flow. Onyx embolization was performed with the same microcatheter. The DAVF was almost completely occluded except for the presence of minimal shunting flow to the proximal TS. After 1 week, time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography showed complete resolution of DAVF. The patient showed resolved tremor and markedly improved mental status at 1-month follow up. Direct puncture and embolization of the TS using coils and Onyx is effective and feasible method for the treatment of DAVF when other approaches seem difficult.
Adhesives ; Aged ; Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations ; Cerebral Angiography ; Craniotomy ; Dysarthria ; Female ; Femoral Vein ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gait Disorders, Neurologic ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Methods ; Occipital Bone ; Punctures ; Superior Sagittal Sinus ; Tremor

OBJECTIVE: The principle operation of acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) is a craniotomy with hematoma removal, but a trephination with hematoma evacuation may be another method in selected cases. Trephine drainage was performed for ASDH patients in subacute stage using urokinase (UK) instillation, and its results were evaluated. METHODS: Between January 2016 and December 2018, the trephine evacuation using UK was performed in 9 patients. The interval between injury and operation was from 1 to 2 weeks. We underwent a burr hole trephination with drainage initially, and waited until the flow of liquefied hematoma stopped, then instilled UK for the purpose of clot liquefaction. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 71.6 years (range, 38–90 years). The cause of ASDH was trauma in 8 cases, and supposed a complication of anticoagulant medication in 1 case. Four out of 8 patients took antiplatelet medications and one of them was a chronic alcoholism. The range of the Glasgow Coma Scale score before surgery was from 13 to 15. Most of patients, main symptom was headache at admission. The Glasgow Outcome Scale score was 5 in 8 cases and 3 in 1 case. CONCLUSION: It is thought to be a useful operation method in selected patients with ASDH that the subdural drainage in subacute stage with UK instillation. This method might be another useful option for the patients with good mental state regardless of age and the patients with a risk of bleeding due to antithrombotic medications.
Alcoholism ; Craniotomy ; Drainage ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Glasgow Outcome Scale ; Headache ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural, Acute ; Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Methods ; Trephining ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

OBJECTIVE: Rapid expansion of subacute subdural hematomas (saSDHs) is an uncommon complication in the course of acute subdural hematomas (SDHs). The current study evaluated relevant factors and treatment methods for saSDHs with neurologic deterioration and mass effect. METHODS: A saSDHs was chronologically defined as an SDH occurring 4 to 21 days after head trauma. All cases of surgically treated SDHs were retrieved from the head trauma bank at our institution. Twenty-three patients with expanding saSDHs who met the following criteria were enrolled in the study: defined age of the hematoma, clinical deterioration, and radiological expansion of the hematoma. Cases were analyzed according to demographic factors, trauma mechanism, medical co-morbidity, and surgical method. RESULTS: Expanding saSDHs occurred more often in older (≥60 years old) than in younger patients (69.6% vs. 30.4%, respectively); they also occurred more often in men than in women (64% vs. 36%, respectively). Antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy was used in 52% of patients. The Glasgow Coma Scale score was 13 at the time of the trauma and deteriorated to 11 at the time of surgery. The mean time from the trauma to development of the expanding saSDH from an SDH was 13.3 days. Regarding surgical methods, closed-system drainage was performed in 22 patients, and only one patient underwent craniotomy with hematoma removal. All patients exhibited neurological improvements after surgery. CONCLUSION: An expanding saSDH usually occurs around 13 days after trauma in older adults. Minimal trephination with closed-system drainage can be used to manage an expanding saSDHs.
Adult ; Catheters* ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Craniotomy ; Demography ; Drainage* ; Female ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural* ; Hematoma, Subdural, Acute ; Humans ; Male ; Methods ; Trephining

For dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF), when the usual endovascular or neurosurgical approaches are difficult to treat, multi-modal treatment can be helpful. We present a case of a 71-year-old woman with DAVF, who presented with an intracerebral haemorrhage. Digital subtraction angiography revealed a DAVF of the transverse sinus, with cortical venous reflux. Transvenous and transarterial approaches for coil embolization failed. In the operating room, a small craniotomy was performed, and coil embolization was done under fluoroscopy. Transcranial venous embolization might be a useful method to occlude DAVF in a case that is difficult to access by usual surgical or endovascular approaches.
Aged ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations* ; Craniotomy ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Endovascular Procedures ; Female ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Methods ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; Operating Rooms ; Transverse Sinuses

BACKGROUNDThe optimal ventilated status under total intravenous or inhalation anesthesia in neurosurgical patients with a supratentorial tumor has not been ascertained. The purpose of this study was to intraoperatively compare the effects of moderate hyperventilation on the jugular bulb oxygen saturation (SjO 2 ), cerebral oxygen extraction ratio (O 2 ER), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR) in patients with a supratentorial tumor under different anesthetic regimens.

METHODSTwenty adult patients suffered from supratentorial tumors were randomly assigned to receive a propofol infusion followed by isoflurane anesthesia after a 30-min stabilization period or isoflurane followed by propofol. The patients were randomized to one of the following two treatment sequences: hyperventilation followed by normoventilation or normoventilation followed by hyperventilation during isoflurane or propofol anesthesia, respectively. The ventilation and end-tidal CO 2 tension were maintained at a constant level for 20 min. Radial arterial and jugular bulb catheters were inserted for the blood gas sampling. At the end of each study period, we measured the change in the arterial and jugular bulb blood gases.

RESULTSThe mean value of the jugular bulb oxygen saturation (SjO 2 ) significantly decreased, and the oxygen extraction ratio (O 2 ER) significantly increased under isoflurane or propofol anesthesia during hyperventilation compared with those during normoventilation (SjO 2 : t = -2.728, P = 0.011 or t = -3.504, P = 0.001; O 2 ER: t = 2.484, P = 0.020 or t = 2.892, P = 0.009). The SjO 2 significantly decreased, and the O 2 ER significantly increased under propofol anesthesia compared with those values under isoflurane anesthesia during moderate hyperventilation (SjO 2 : t = -2.769, P = 0.012; O 2 ER: t = 2.719, P = 0.013). In the study, no significant changes in the SjO 2 and the O 2 ER were observed under propofol compared with those values under isoflurane during normoventilation.

CONCLUSIONSOur results suggest that the optimal ventilated status under propofol or isoflurane anesthesia in neurosurgical patients varies. Hyperventilation under propofol anesthesia should be cautiously performed in neurosurgery to maintain an improved balance between the cerebral oxygen supply and demand.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anesthetics, Inhalation ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; Arterial Pressure ; physiology ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Craniotomy ; methods ; Female ; Heart Rate ; physiology ; Humans ; Hyperventilation ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Isoflurane ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Propofol ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

Adult ; Altitude ; Craniotomy ; methods ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the causes, clinical manifestation and treatment principles of frontal sinus tract after the frontal approach craniotomy. METHOD: The clinic data of 13 patients with frontal skin sinus tract after the frontal approach craniotomy were retrospectively analyzed. All of them were described in the clinical record to have undergone frontal sinus mucosa pushing down or shaving and bone wax filling in the frontal sinus during the surgery, of whom 3 cases had history of frontal abscess incision drainage. All patients were performed endoscopic frontal sinus surgery and forehead skin sinus tract excision and suture. RESULT: All of the patients successfully recovered after one-stage operation, and the frontal skin sinus tract was healed. CONCLUSION The frontal approach craniotomy with postoperative frontal sinus tract was related with the improper use of bone wax tamponade and sealing of frontal sinus. The treatment principles were to remove bone wax, remove inflammatory granulation tissue around the sinus tract, and to open frontal sinus and promote frontal sinus drainage.
Craniotomy ; methods ; Drainage ; Endoscopy ; Forehead ; Frontal Sinus ; surgery ; Granulation Tissue ; surgery ; Humans ; Palmitates ; Retrospective Studies ; Waxes

The clival region refers to the skull base between dorsum sellae and anterior border of foramen magnum. It is located in central area of skull base and is in close proximity to pons, medulla oblongata, basilar artery and other crucial intracranial structures. Although there are various microsurgical approaches using craniotomy to reach this region, there are still a lot of difficulty in exposure of clivus. With the increasing development in extended endoscopic endonasal approach, a new route to clivus, as well as meticulous endoscopic anatomy studies is emerging. This article reviewed related researches progress of the detailed anatomical studies from endoscopic perspective.
Cranial Fossa, Posterior ; anatomy & histology ; Craniotomy ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Humans ; Nasal Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Nose ; anatomy & histology ; Skull Base ; anatomy & histology