A Comparative Study between Two Types of Materials Used for Duraplasty

Abstract

Background: Watertight dural closure is an essential part of all intracerebral operations in
order to prevent CSF leakage and consequent infection and wound dehiscence which in turn
cause delayed wound healing and this in turn increases patient morbidity and mortality.
Various types of materials both autologous and synthetic have been used for duraplasty. This
study compares the result and outcome between two types of synthetic materials commonly
used for duraplasty.
Methods: This randomised prospective study was carried out in our hospital on 52 patients
who underwent decompressive craniotomy. Patients were randomly divided into two groups.
One group underwent duraplasty using a synthetic fabric patch graft, while the other group
underwent duraplasty using collagen matrix graft and the results were compared between the
two types of duraplasty.
Results: Patients who underwent duraplasty with collagen matrix graft were found to have a
significantly reduced operating time of nearly 30 minutes as compared to those in whom
synthetic fabric patch was used. Also there were no cases of CSF leakage or wound infection
in patients who underwent duraplasty with collagen matrix.
Conclusions: Collagen matrix graft was found to be superior to synthetic fabric graft for
duraplasty as not only does it save valuable operating time, it has fewer complications as
compared to synthetic fabric grafts.