The use of Vicryl Collagen as a dura substitute: a clinical review of 78 surgical cases.

Abstract

We performed a retrospective review of 78 consecutive neurosurgical procedures using Vicryl Collagen, a resorbable mesh of polyglactin 910 coated with bovine collagen, for dural substitution. The complications we encountered were infrequent and mostly minor (5 cases of subcutaneous CSF collections, 2 cases of aseptic meningitis, 1 superficial wound infection), and not unusual for the surgical procedures studied. One patient, however, had a major infection, starting in the superficial tissues, and extending toward the brain. In this patient, the resorption of the dural substitute appeared to be the cause for the intracranial extension of the infection. Three patients were reoperated on for recurrent tumour after a longer interval. We found minimal adhesions and good fibrous incorporation of the Vicryl Collagen into the surrounding normal dura. We conclude that Vicryl Collagen is a valuable alternative to the patient's own fibrous tissues when dural substitution is necessary.