<< Back to the abstract archive
Titanium Hardware Complications in Pediatric Cranioplasty: A Case Series.
Luke Grome, Cody Mullens, Cesar Serrano, Rabia Qaiser, Aaron Mason
West Virginia University School of Medicine
2017-02-01
Presenter: Luke Grome
Affidavit:
This project was performed and completed in majority by the presenter.
Director Name: Aaron Mason
Author Category: Medical Student
Presentation Category: Clinical
Abstract Category: Craniomaxillofacial
Introduction: Cranioplasty is performed in infants to address congenital and traumatic anomalies. Different approaches for cranioplasty exist, some use autologous bone grafts to fill calvarial defects while the use of titanium hardware has been used by other surgeons. As infants age, those patients with titanium implants are at risk for scalp breakdown and implant extrusion. This case series describes complications of titanium hardware use and the strategies used to treat them.
Methods: Four consecutive cases of titanium mesh extrusion and/or impending extrusion are described. Treatment strategies are discussed and outlined.
Results: The four cases illustrate four distinct scenarios: 1) calvarium intact with titanium hardware near extrusion, 2) calvarium with a defect that is amenable to reconstruction and titanium extrusion imminent, 3) calvarial defect that is amenable to reconstruction but with infected extruded titanium hardware, and 4) a calvarial defect that is very large and not amenable to reconstruction yet with imminent or extruded titanium hardware. The individual strategies used to treat each are described.
Conclusion: This case series illustrates four examples of negative sequela associated with titanium utilization in infant cranioplasty and treatment strategies for each case.
