Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38771556›Full record

ArticleActa neurochirurgica2024

Cryopreserved bone flaps from decompressive craniectomies: a microbiological analysis.

Alexander Romagna, Albert Eckert, Florian Scherg, Kathrin Rothe, Michael Meier, Jens Lehmberg, Christian Blume, Arwin Rezai, Christoph J Griessenauer, Christoph Schwartz

Abstract readMulticenter Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Acta neurochirurgica, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Alexander RomagnaDepartment of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria. alexander.romagna@muenchen-klinik.de.ORCID 0000-0002-1855-2212
Albert EckertDepartment of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
Florian SchergDepartment of Neurosurgery, München Klinik Bogenhausen, Englschalkinger Str. 77, 81925, Munich, Germany.
Kathrin RotheDepartment of Medical Microbiology, München Klinik Neuperlach, Munich, Germany.
Michael MeierDepartment of Neurosurgery, München Klinik Bogenhausen, Englschalkinger Str. 77, 81925, Munich, Germany.
Jens LehmbergDepartment of Neurosurgery, München Klinik Bogenhausen, Englschalkinger Str. 77, 81925, Munich, Germany.
Christian BlumeDepartment of Neurosurgery, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
Arwin RezaiDepartment of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
Christoph J GriessenauerDepartment of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
Christoph SchwartzDepartment of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeSurgical site infection (SSI) is a serious complication after cranioplasty. Due to the relatively frequent occurrence of post-cranioplasty SSI, the utility of autologous bone flap swab cultures surrounding cryopreservation as a reliable predictor has been the subject of an ongoing debate. This bicentric study aims to contribute to this topic by conducting an in-depth analysis of bone flaps obtained via decompressive craniectomies. This study had three major aims: assessments of 1) bacterial contamination of bone flaps after decompressive craniotomy, 2) impact of cryoconservation on contamination rates and 3) potential effectiveness of anti-infective treatment to reduce the germ load prior to cranioplasty.

methodsCryopreserved bone flaps from two centers were used. Microbiological cultivations of swabs prior to and after cryopreservation were taken and assessed for aerobic and anaerobic growth over a 14-day incubation period. Additionally, in a subset of bone flaps, swab testing was repeated after thorough rinsing with an anti-infectant (octenidine-phenoxyethanol) followed by saline.

resultsAll 63 bone flaps (patients median age at surgery: 59 years) were obtained via decompressive craniectomies. Swabs done prior to cryopreservation revealed a 54% infection rate with Propionibacterium acnes being the most common microorganism in 65% of those cases. After thorough disinfection of the preserved bone flaps, all but one case showed no bacterial growth in swab testing. Furthermore, no relevant risk factors for bacterial contamination could be identified.

conclusionThis retrospective study showed the common presence of bacterial growth in cryopreserved bone flaps before and after freezing. Rinsing with octenidine-phenoxyethanol and saline effectively prevented bacterial growth in a notable percentage of cases, suggesting a potential strategy to reduce contamination. However, persistent bacterial growth in some cases underscores the need for further research to optimize antiseptic measures during autologous cranioplasty.

Indexed as

CryopreservationDecompressive CraniectomySurgical FlapsSurgical Wound InfectionAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPropionibacterium acnesAutologous bone flapCranioplastyCryopreservationSurgical site infection

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.