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Craniotomy repair with the retrosigmoid approach: the impact on quality of life of meticulous reconstruction of anatomical layers

  • Technical Note
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Abstract

Introduction

Various cranial repairs have been described to limit the incidence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, the rate of infections, postoperative headache and local discomfort in patients undergoing cerebello-pontine angle surgery.

Materials and methods

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a feasible craniotomy procedure and cranial repair technique, which does not require bone replacers or filling materials, on postoperative outcome. We analysed postoperative results in a series of 34 patients undergoing cerebello-pontine angle surgery.

Discussion and conclusions

We observed a statistically significant reduced incidence of local discomfort, postoperative headache and CSF leak in patients who underwent such a reconstructive technique compared to those undergoing retrosigmoid craniectomy.

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Fig.1

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Conflicts of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Neurosurgery, Department of Functional Neurosurgery, Catholic University of Rome, L.go A. Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy

    Giuseppe Maria Della Pepa, Nicola Montano, Corrado Lucantoni, Fabio Papacci & Mario Meglio

  2. Department of Neuroradiology, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Andrea Maria Alexandre

Authors
  1. Giuseppe Maria Della Pepa
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  2. Nicola Montano
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  3. Corrado Lucantoni
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  4. Andrea Maria Alexandre
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  5. Fabio Papacci
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  6. Mario Meglio
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giuseppe Maria Della Pepa.

Additional information

Comment

This is a concise technical note that describes the authors' technique to improve the quality of craniotomy repair in a retrosigmoid approach to CPA lesions. There is no really new information, but the paper has the value of emphasizing the importance of a meticulous reconstruction of anatomical layers in this approach and provides a useful review of the relevant recent literature.

The conclusions on the efficacy of the technique are convincingly supported by explicit information on the population, results and follow-up.

Domenico d’Avella

Padua, Italy

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Della Pepa, G.M., Montano, N., Lucantoni, C. et al. Craniotomy repair with the retrosigmoid approach: the impact on quality of life of meticulous reconstruction of anatomical layers. Acta Neurochir 153, 2255–2258 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-011-1113-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-011-1113-3

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