Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41254416›Full record

SynthesisNeurosurgical review2025

Utility of Bone Cement for Cranioplasty Following Retrosigmoid or Translabyrinthine Craniectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Carlos Aguilera, Galadu D Subah, Corinne Bogle, Ryan Gensler, Ziam Khan, Krisna Maddy, Jeffrey M Breton, Anna R Beaufort, Amjad N Anaizi, Joseph Watson and 1 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Neurosurgical review, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

11 authors.

Carlos AguileraGeorgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA.
Galadu D SubahDepartment of Neurosurgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Corinne BogleGeorgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA.
Ryan GenslerGeorgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA.
Ziam KhanUniversity of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Krisna MaddyDepartment of Neurosurgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Jeffrey M BretonDepartment of Neurosurgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Anna R BeaufortGeisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA.
Amjad N AnaiziDepartment of Neurosurgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Joseph WatsonDepartment of Neurosurgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Gnel PivazyanDepartment of Neurosurgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA. pivazyangnel@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesTranslabyrinthine and retrosigmoid craniectomies carry high risk of wound complications. The goal of this study was to compare the effectiveness of bone cement versus no bone cement for translabyrinthine and retrosigmoid craniectomies in reducing the odds of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks, pseudomeningoceles, Surgical Site Infections (SSIs), and meningitis.  MATERIALS AND

methodsA systematic review of the literature in databases was conducted for all relevant literature. Studies comparing outcomes of bone cement versus no bone cement use in adults undergoing retrosigmoid or translabyrinthine craniectomies were included. Bone cement group involved use of methylmethacrylate, calcium phosphate, or hydroxyapatite and non-bone cement - autologous bone, titanium mesh cranioplasty, or fat graft alone. Supratentorial or midline suboccipital craniectomies were excluded. Odds ratios (ORs) for outcomes with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the random-effects model. 

resultsFrom a total of 347 titles identified, 8 studies were chosen for analysis. There were a total of 1,044 and 1,021 patients in the cement and non-cement groups, respectively. In the retrosigmoid craniectomy cohort, bone cement was associated with lower odds of CSF leak (OR: 0.25 [CI: 0.14, 0.43], p<0.0001), pseudomeningocele (OR: 0.25 [CI: 0.14, 0.45], p<0.0001), SSI (OR: 0.27 [CI: 0.08, 0.98], p=0.05), and meningitis (OR: 0.13 [CI: 0.04, 0.45], p=0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in the translabyrinthine cohort. 

conclusionsBone cement cranioplasty reduced the odds of CSF leaks, pseudomeningoceles, SSIs, and meningitis for retrosigmoid craniectomies and had equivalent outcomes for translabyrinthine craniectomies. This systematic review was based on retrospective cohort studies.

Indexed as

Bone CementsCraniotomyPlastic Surgery ProceduresCerebrospinal Fluid LeakHumansMeningitisPostoperative ComplicationsSurgical Wound InfectionBone CementsBone cementCerebrospinal fluidCraniotomyInfectionPseudomeningoceleRetrosigmoidTranslabyrinthine

Identifiers

PMID41254416

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.