Hydroxyapatite bone cement for suboccipital retrosigmoid cranioplasty: A single institution case series.

OBJECTIVE: To report rates of cerebrospinal fluid leak, wound infection, and other complications after repair of retrosigmoid craniotomy with hydroxyapatite bone cement.

METHODS: Retrospective case review at tertiary referral center of patients who underwent retrosigmoid craniotomy from 2013 to 2016 with hydroxyapatite cement cranioplasty.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence of absence of cerebrospinal fluid leak, wound infection, and other complications.

RESULTS: Twenty cases of retrosigmoid craniotomy repaired with hydroxyapatite cement were identified. Median length of follow up was 9.8months. No cases of cerebrospinal fluid leak were identified. One patient developed a wound infection which was thought to be related to a chronic inflammatory response to the implanted dural substitute. No other major complications were noted.

CONCLUSIONS: A method and case series of suboccipital retrosigmoid cranioplasty using hydroxyapatite cement and a are reported. Hydroxyapatite cement cranioplasty is a safe and effective technique for repair of retrosigmoid craniotomy defects.