BONE FLAPS:

CRYOPRESERVATION VERSUS INTRACORPOREAL PRESERVATION OF CRANIAL BONE FLAPS; A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF LITERATURE.

Abstract

Cranioplasty is the surgical repair of a bone deformity of the skull. Autologous
bone grafts are preferred more since the cranial bone flaps will not be subject to rejection by
the host and they lower the entry of foreign materials into the body. Preservation of cranial
bone flaps is done in numerous ways, namely cryopreservation after a decompressive
craniectomy, intracorporeal preservation and cranioplasty with subcutaneously preserved
autologous bone grafts. The method of preserving cranial bone flaps using cryopreservation
has many advantages; it is a safe, simple and an effective method for autologous bone grafts.
The cryopreservation is also associated with higher infection rates and bone resorption as
complications when compared to intracorporeal preservation. Intracoporeal preservation
technique has many advantages, particularly that this surgery is easy, safe and cost-effective.
The duration of the operation is short. The autologous bone flaps are not subject to rejection
and there is no need for intra-operative bone shaping. Therefore on the basis of review of
literature authors concluded that intracorporeal preservation is better than cryopreservation of
cranial bone flaps, in terms of efficacy and complications.