Epidural Bovine Pericardium Facilitates Dissection During Cranioplasty: A Technical Note

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Adhesions and scarring of the subcutaneous tissue to the dura mater or dural substitute often complicate cranioplasty. We present our experience with epidural bovine pericardium as a barrier membrane to minimize adhesions and facilitate separation of tissue layers. METHODS: A cohort of patients who underwent decompressive craniectomy and subsequent cranioplasty at a major academic institution in the United States from August 2007 to October 2013 and had epidural bovine pericardium placed as a barrier membrane was retrospectively reviewed. Medical records and imaging studies were reviewed for a number of variables including presence of adhesions, infection, contusions, and operative complications. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients (male-to-female = 1:1.1; mean age 45 +/- 14.7 years) who underwent decompressive craniectomy with placement of epidural bovine pericardium with subsequent cranioplasty were identified. The median interval between craniectomy and cranioplasty was 64 days, and autologous bone was used for cranioplasty in 86.2% of cases. The average size of cranial defect was 71.2 +/- 28.5 cm(2). At the time of cranioplasty, no or minimal adhesions were found between the subcutaneous tissue and the epidural bovine pericardium. There were 2 (6.9%) infections, 2 (6.9%) patients had contusion after the cranioplasty, and no patient had a complication after cranioplasty that required reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: Epidural bovine pericardium at the time of decompressive craniectomy facilitates dissection at the time of cranioplasty and is not associated with any additional risks.