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Cranioplasty Using Titanium Mesh After Skull Tumor Resection in Five Dogs
Author(s) -
Rosselli Desiree D.,
Platt Simon R.,
Freeman Courtenay,
O'Neill Jeremy,
Kent Marc,
Holmes Shan P.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
veterinary surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1532-950X
pISSN - 0161-3499
DOI - 10.1111/vsu.12577
Subject(s) - cranioplasty , medicine , cranial vault , skull , surgery , magnetic resonance imaging , sarcoma , radiology , pathology
Abstract Objective To describe the clinical details, surgery, postoperative imaging, and short to mid‐term outcome after cranioplasty with titanium mesh in dogs with large skull tumors. Study Design Case series. Animals Client‐owned dogs with skull tumors (n=5). Methods All tumors were removed via craniectomy and a sheet of titanium mesh was contoured to reconstruct the calvarial defect and sutured to surrounding musculature. Results Four dogs had multilobular tumors of bone and 1 dog had a soft tissue sarcoma invading the cranial vault. Neurologic examination was unchanged or improved postoperative, a good cosmetic appearance was achieved, and no complications were noted at 2 weeks postoperative. Late postoperative computed tomography (CT) in 2 dogs and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in 1 dog confirmed the presence of the titanium mesh without migration. There was no interference of the mesh with image interpretation and definitive radiation therapy was pursued in 1 dog without complication. Late follow‐up reported 2 dogs euthanatized; at 44 weeks postoperative due to tumor re‐growth; at 12 weeks postoperative for hemoabdomen, respectively. One dog drowned at 40 weeks postoperative, 1 dog was lost to follow‐up, and 1 dog is alive at 83 weeks postoperative free of clinical signs. Conclusions Titanium mesh is suitable for cranioplasty based on its strength, biocompatibility, and excellent handling characteristics. It does not interfere with acquisition or interpretation of CT or MR images, thereby allowing postoperative imaging for ongoing assessment.