NEUROSPINE
Cranial & Dural Closure
In order to close the soft tissue and bone of the skull following cranial surgery, a number of specialist products are available to the neurosurgeon to effect a comprehensive and lasting ‘seal’. For closure of the dura (a three layered ‘membrane’ surrounding the brain) we have two outstanding product offerings:
DuraGuard – a well established dural patch in order to close in cases of dural loss. DuraGuard distinguishes itself because of outstanding handling characteristics to allow it to conform very closely to the anatomy of the brain’s surface and also the ability to retain a suture in watertight fashion. The collagenous material of DuraGuard approximates itself around the suture to provide a dural closure in watertight fashion, for those occasions when it is imperative to prevent CSF leakage.
DuraSeal – one of Forth’s most popular products, an entirely synthetic and fast setting polymer that can be sprayed onto the dura to provide almost instantaneous sealing against CSF leakage. Easy to see during application, very easy to prepare (in less than 90 seconds, typically), cost effective and extremely effective clinically, DuraSeal has quickly become a neurosurgical ‘standard’ for effectively closing the dura. Our partners at Confluent Surgical also produce DuraSeal Xact – a preparation for sealing and protecting the dura in spinal surgery to help prevent CSF leakage and painful scar tissue formation.
Rapid Fix and Rapid Flap Spin Down – from Biomet Microfixation (formerly W. Lorenz Surgical) are two very neat solutions for closing the bone flap following cranial surgery. Rapid Fix is a single patient sterile kit comprising six self tapping and self drilling titanium screws and three ‘dog-bone’ shaped plates in order to fix the bone flap back into place quickly and effectively. Rapid Fix has become one of the most popular products in our range, offering as it does a very cost effective but very clinically effective solution.
Rapid Flap Spin Down is one of the only ‘instrumentless’ systems on offer. Three clamps compress down to grasp the bone flap and the cranium together to form a solid cranial closure. A clever in-built torque limiting device prevents overtightening and the flap is closed extremely quickly and without any instruments necessary!
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