Background:
Fixation of bone flaps after craniotomy is a routine part of every neurosurgical procedure. The ideal fixation device should be safe, reliable, biologically inert, easy to use, and inexpensive and should not produce artifacts on neuroimaging. The authors describe a new device that meets these criteria.
Methods:
This is an observational, multicentric, and case series study of 56 patients who underwent a craniotomy and were subject to cranial bone flap fixation with the NT cranial small fixation system. A case–control group in whom titanium miniplates and screws were implanted was collected. All patients underwent CT scans of the head with 3D reconstruction at day 1 and day 90 postoperatively to evaluate bone flap position and fusion.
Results:
A total of 140 NT cranial small were implanted in 56 patients (mean age 44.2, range 22–63 years). The new device has shown stronger fixation qualities with optimal bone flap fusion and good cosmetic features. No surgical or relevant postsurgical follow-up complications have been associated with the device.
Conclusion:
Although this is a preliminary report in a relatively small number of patients, NT cranial small provides a safe, reliable, and easily applied postoperative cranial bone flap fixation system.
A systematic review of flap fixation techniques in reducing seroma formation and its sequelae after mastectomy
