Minimally Invasive surgery
for Posterior Cranial FossaLesions Using Fibrin Glue

Keimyung Medical Journal 2000;19(1):83-90.

Minimally Invasive surgery for Posterior Cranial FossaLesions Using Fibrin Glue

후두와 뇌병변의 최소침습수술에서 Fibrin Glue의 사용

손은익; 김일만; 김동원; 임만빈

Abstract

The posterior fossa surgery (PFS) via lateral suboccipital craniectomy(SOCE) and partial mastoidectomy always has the potential cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) leakage and painful deformity in the suboccipital and retroauricular area. This study describes the efficacy of our methods for dural closure and cranioplasty to prevent CSF leakage and suboccipital depression respectively after posterior fossa exploration using retrosigmoid suboccipital approaches. This techniques were performed in the consecutive 10 patients who underwent PFS in a park-bench position for different types of lesions. The SOCE and driling of the mastoid process were done minimally. Following intradural works; dura was closed in a watertight manner usually using a graft; thereafter reinforced with GelfoamR and biological human allogenic fibrin glue (GreenpIastR). After augmentation of dural suture; opened mastoid air cells were bone-waxed and covered with fat graft by anchoring sutures. For the reconstructive cranioplasty; autologous bone chips and dust obtained at craniectomy were wrapped with SurgicelR. Then it was replaced to the site of suboccipital bone defect and GreenplastR was applied on and around the bone plate. The age of patients ranged from 33 to 61 years. Five cases of hemifacial spasm have been undertaken decompression of the facial nerve and four cases of cerebellopontine angle mass-es(meningioma; epidermoid; arachnoid cyst; and cerebellar metastasis) were treated by retrosigmoid approach. Computed tomography and plain cranial films taken a few month later showed successful and good appearance of the suboccipital and retromastoid area. All patients made a excellent recovery without any postoperative complications. Preliminary results of up

Key Words: Suboccipital craniectomy, Dural repair, Cranioplasty, CSF leakage, Fibrin glue, Postoperative headache