EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF COLLAGEN SPONGE AS A DURAL GRAFT

Early collagen products, when used as dural substitutes, promoted seve re inflammatory responses and fell into disrepute. A more recent advan ce, collagen sponge, which is derived from bovine flexor tendons was u sed in this experimental study. Collagen sponge was surgically implant ed as an onlay dural replacement graft following skull trephination an d dural excision in 12 primates. Macroscopic, histological and electro n-microscopical evaluations were performed at periods of 1, 3 and 9 mo nths. This preliminary animal study indicated that collagen sponge is suitable to use as a graft since it does not induce any inflammatory r esponse or adhesions in the absence of pia arachnoid injury. It forms an ideal scaffold for the early ingrowth of fibroblasts to effect dura l repair.