Computed tomographic evaluation before cranial bone harvesting to avoid unexpected hazards during aesthetic procedures.

Abstract

Nowadays, cranium is the preferred bone-graft donor site for facial aesthetic operations. Preoperative information about the quality of cranial bone, such as bone thickness or presence of the diplopic space, can be useful to minimize intracranial complications. This fact is neglected in reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. The aim of this study is to assess the reliability of Computed Tomography (CT) to determine cranial bone quality. Sixty-four cadaver parietal bones, the preferred site for bone-graft harvesting, were used in this study. In the first stage, posterior parietal bone thickness, which is accepted as the thickest part of cranium, was measured at specially determined points using a micrometer and the results were recorded. Bone thickness was then measured again in the same points with CT. The two methods were compared statistically. The measurements were not found to be statistically different. The similar values obtained with CT and micrometers suggest that CT can accurately and reliably determine cranial thickness. Preoperative CT can be a significant guide for the harvest of cranial bone grafts without any intracranial complications in aesthetic surgery.