Restoration of small bone defects at craniotomy using autologous bone dust and fibrin glue

BACKGROUND Bone gaps or burr holes often result in small but undesirable scalp or skin depressions after craniotomy. Whereas a number of reports have discussed cranioplasties to avoid large bone defects, little has been written about the problem of small bone defects which, despite their minor size, could result in bothersome cosmetic problems. METHODS This study was designed to assess a simple method to repair burr hole defects and bridge bone gaps with autologous bone dust and fibrin glue. Bone dust was collected when burr holes were created or craniectomy was performed. After replacement of the bone flap, the burr holes or bone gap were filled with a mixture of bone dust and fibrin glue. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The mixture of bone dust and fibrin glue was easily shaped to fit bone defects, resulting in favorable cosmetic outcomes 1 to 5 years after operation. (C) 1998 by Elsevier Science Inc.