Dural reconstruction by fascia, using a temperature controlled CO ₂ laser soldering system

Conventional methods for dura repair are normally based on sutures or stitches. These methods have several disadvantages: (1) The dura is often brittle, and the standard procedures are difficult and time consuming. (2) The seal is leaky. (3) The introduction of a foreign body (e.g. sutures) may cause an inflammatory response. In order to overcome these difficulties we used a temperature controlled fiber optic based CO₂ laser soldering system. In a set of in vitro experiments we generated a hole of diameter 10 mm in the dura of a pig corpse, covered the hole with a segment of fascia, and soldered the fascia to the edges of the hole, using 47% bovine albumin as a solder. The soldering was carried out spot by spot, and each spot was heated to 65° C for 3-6 seconds. The soldered dura was removed and the burst pressure of the soldered patch was measured. The average value for microscopic muscular side soldering was 194 mm Hg. This is much higher than the maximal physiological pressure of the CSF fluid in the brain, which is 15 mm Hg. In a set of in vivo experiments, fascia patches were soldered on holes in five farm pigs. The long term results of these experiments were very promising. In conclusion, we have developed an advanced technique for durai reconstruction, which will find important clinical applications.