SPLIT-THICKNESS CALVARIAL GRAFTS IN YOUNG-CHILDREN

Sixteen patients (mean age, 1.9 years) underwent split-thickness calva rial bone grafting using a full-thickness craniotomy, high-speed drill , and osteotomes for bone harvesting. The minimal calvarial bone thick ness for a successful graft was found to be 7 mm. All patients were di agnostically studied preoperatively with computed tomographic scans an d skull films. The mean follow-up was 2.9 years (range, 0,75-7.9 years ). All patients had successful graft take. There were no infections or mortalities. Continued graft growth was seen in all patients. There w as one dural tear during harvesting with no cerebrospinal fluid leak o r postoperative sequelae. This analysis indicates that split-thickness calvarial grafts can be safely and adequately performed in children a s young as 13 months of age.