Icariin contributes to healing skull defects in rabbit models

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of icariin for healing skull defects in rabbit models.METHODS: Thirty-six 3-month-old female New Zealand white rabbits, weighing 1.8-2.0 kg each, were randomly divided into either the control or experimental group. Skull defect models were constructed in both groups, with the experimental group receiving oral icariin afterwards. At 4, 8 and 12 postoperative weeks, the rabbits were euthanized, and X-rays and samples were taken. Tissue sections were stained using hematoxylin and eosin, followed by additional processing using histological and bone metrological methods for observing the rate and quality of the bone formation.RESULTS: Histologically, additional mature lamellar bone formed in the defect area in the experimental group compared with that of the control group.Bone metrological methods showed that the bone mass, trabecular bone width and number of osteoblasts in the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group(P < 0.01).The number of osteoclasts did not significantly differ between the two groups(P > 0.05).CONCLUSION: Icariin increased the bone mass and improved the condition of the defect area in the rabbit skulls.

Aplasia curls congenital： a case of large scalp and skull defects treated with conservative approach

Al-month-old boy was transferred postpartum from an outside hospital. The boy weighing 3.2 kg andmeasuring 50 cm long was born after an uneventful, first pregnancy at term by caesarean section. The mother was given oral medication for a week to treat diarrhea in the fifth month of pregnancy. At birth he was found to have a huge scalp defect covered only with a transparent membrane that covered the underlying brain. The wound gradually desiccated and formed an eschar.

High Scalp Tension after Three-Dimensional Titanium Mesh Repair for Skull Defect: 2 Case Reports

Rationale: The three-dimensional (3D) computer-made titanium mesh is widely used in the skull repair for those patients receiving decompression of the bone flap. It can restore normal anatomy to a greater extent and make a better appearance. Case Presentation: We reported two cases of patients admitted to our hospital who have experienced high scalp tension after skull repair. At first, these two patients underwent decompression of the bone flap, and the physical examination results showed a defect of skull. No neurological symptoms and signs were found. The 3D computed tomography (CT) reconstruction of skull was performed, and then the skull repair with 3D titanium mesh was conducted. But because of high scalp tension, they underwent a second operation, during which we re-trimmed and reduce the arc of the titanium mesh. The scalp incision of both patients healed well and no titanium mesh was exposed. Both patients have a good prognosis. Lessons: We highlight that the high tension of scalp due to overstretching after 3D titanium mesh repair for skull defect should be paid much attention to. Trimming and reducing the arc of titanium mesh is an effective treatment for this situation.

The clinical characteristics and treatment of head trauma patients with skull defect

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and therapeutic of head trauma patients with skull defect. Methods A retrospective study of clinical data of 47 brain injury patients with skull defect in our hospital from Janary 1993 to Janary 2009 was performed. Results Compared with

Skull repair materials applied in cranioplasty: History and progress

The skull provides protection and mechanical support, and acts as a container for the brain and its accessory organs. Some defects in the skull can fatally threaten human life.Many efforts have been taken to repair defects in the skull, among which cranioplasty is the most prominent technique. To repair the injury, numerous natural and artificial materials have been adopted by neurosurgeons. Many cranioprostheses have been tried in the past decades, from autoplast to bioceramics. Neurosurgeons have been evaluating their advantages and shortages through clinical practice. Among those prostheses, surgeons gradually prefer bionic ones due to their marvelous osteoconductivity,osteoinductivity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Autogeneic bone has been widely recognized as the "gold standard" for renovating large-sized bone defects. However, the access to this technique is restricted by limited availability and complications associated with its use. Many metal and polymeric materials with mechanical characteristics analogous to natural bones were consequently applied to cranioplasty. But most of them were unsatisfactory concerning osteoconductiion and biodegradability owe to their intrinsic properties. With the microstructures almost identical to natural bones, mineralized collagen has biological performance nearly identical to autogeneic bone, such as osteoconduction. Implants made of mineralized collagen can integrate themselves into the newly formed bones through a process called "creeping substitution". In this review, the authors retrospect the evolution of skull repair material applied in cranioplasty. The ultimate skull repair material should have microstructure and bioactive qualities that enable osteogenesis induction and intramembranous ossification.