Feasibility study on repair for cranial defect of immaturity.

AIM To evaluate use of a titanium mesh to fill cranial defects in growing animals, as a model for juvenile humans. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty two-month-old Seghers pigs were evenly assigned to one of three groups: controls, a defect group (unrepaired 5 x 5 cm lesion), and a repair group (repaired 5 x 5 cm lesions). Histological evaluations and morphological measurements were conducted to compare the groups. RESULTS Two pigs in the defect group died. New bone formation was evident in the cranial lesions of pigs in the defect and repair groups. There were no differences in histological observations (p = 0.081), brain weight (p = 0.063), or indexed brain circumference measurements (p = 0.066) between the groups. CONCLUSION Closure of cranial defects with a titanium mesh did not limit growth of the cranium or cause abnormal central nervous system development. While there was new bone growth in the cranial defects, the bone was not sufficiently strong to withstand external trauma.