Hydroxyapatite

• Efficacy of hydroxyapatite-based skull base reconstruction for intraoperative high-flow cerebrospinal fluid leakage performed by less-experienced surgeons
• Fusion rate of Escherichia coli-derived recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 compared with local bone autograft in posterior lumbar interbody fusion for degenerative lumbar disorders
• The benefit of antibiotic-combined Mg-hydroxyapatite bone graft substitute over autologous bone for surgical site infection prevention in posterolateral spinal fusion: a retrospective cohort study
• A composite of polymethylmethacrylate, hydroxyapatite, and β-tricalcium phosphate for bone regeneration in an osteoporotic rat model
• Relapse of skull osteoma after hydroxyapatite cement cranioplasty: Case Report
• Predictors of postoperative epidural hematomas after custom-made porous hydroxyapatite cranioplasty: a single-center experience of 194 consecutive cases
• Long-term results comparison after anterior cervical discectomy with BGS-7 spacer (NOVOMAX®-C) and allograft spacer: A prospective observational study
• Cranial meningioma with bone involvement: surgical strategies and clinical considerations

Hydroxylapatite, also called hydroxyapatite (HA), is a naturally occurring mineral form of calcium apatite with the formula Ca5(PO4)3(OH), but is usually written Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 to denote that the crystal unit cell comprises two entities. Hydroxylapatite is the hydroxyl endmember of the complex apatite group. The OH- ion can be replaced by fluoride, chloride, or carbonate, producing fluorapatite or chlorapatite. It crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system. Pure hydroxylapatite powder is white. Naturally occurring apatites can, however, also have brown, yellow, or green colorations, comparable to the discolorations of dental fluorosis.

Up to 50% by volume and 7% by weight is a modified form of hydroxylapatite (known as bone mineral).

Carbonated calcium-deficient hydroxylapatite is the main mineral of which dental enamel and dentin are composed. Hydroxylapatite crystals are also found in the small calcifications (within the pineal gland and other structures) known as corpora arenacea or 'brain sand'.

Hydroxyapatite cranioplasty.

Hydroxyapatite and calcium phosphate augmentation in osteoporotic vertebrae showed a trend toward increased pedicle screw pull-out strength over controls. Pedicle screw pull-out force of polymethylmethacrylate in the insertion stage was higher than that of hydroxyapatite. However, hydroxyapatite is likely a better clinical alternative to polymethylmethacrylate, as hydroxyapatite augmentation, unlike polymethylmethacrylate augmentation, stimulates bone growth and can be revised ¹⁾.

Cerebrospinal fluid fistula prevention

Twenty cases of retrosigmoid craniotomy repaired with hydroxyapatite cement were identified. Median length of follow up was 9.8months. No cases of cerebrospinal fluid leak were identified. One patient developed a wound infection which was thought to be related to a chronic inflammatory response to the implanted dural substitute. No other major complications were noted.

CONCLUSIONS: A method and case series of suboccipital retrosigmoid cranioplasty using hydroxyapatite cement and a are reported. Hydroxyapatite cement cranioplasty is a safe and effective technique for repair of retrosigmoid craniotomy defects ²⁾.