• Paolo Missori, Daniele Marruzzo, Sergio Paolini, Arsen Seferi, Marco Fricia, Massimo Chiara, Valeria Palmarini, and Maurizio Domenicucci.
• Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Neurosurgery, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
• World Neurosurg. 2016 Jun 1; 90: 478-483.

ObjectiveTo report new results with ethylene oxide sterilization and new experiences with autogenous bone flaps autoclaved at a high or low temperature for preservation of a bone flap after decompressive craniectomy.MethodsIn 45 patients who underwent a decompressive craniectomy, we determined bone flap preservation with ethylene oxide and with high- or low-temperature autoclave sterilization.ResultsThe bone flap was repositioned after a mean of 10 weeks in the ethylene oxide group and after 6 weeks in the other sterilization groups. A bone flap infection developed in 1 patient (2%), which required removal and subsequent methyl methacrylate cranioplasty. In 1 child, the bone flap had partially reabsorbed after 12 months. In all other patients, esthetic results were good after an average follow-up of 42 months. At follow-up, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the bone flap showed preservation of structural features with apparent fusion and revitalization at the bone flap margins.ConclusionsEthylene oxide and high- or low-temperature autoclave bone sterilization techniques for the preservation of autologous bone flaps after decompressive craniectomy were safe, rapid, and inexpensive.Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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