METHODS: Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were deployed in the study and randomly divided into two groups. In both groups, a 1 cm_ piece of dura mater was excised. The dura mater defect was covered by collagen matrix in the study group and the excised dura mater was sutured up to yield the pre-craniectomy condition in control group. After a follow-up period, the control dura mater and graft zone were excised together with the adjacent cerebellar cortex. Recovery and meningocerebellar adhesions were examined macroscopically and stained sections underwent light microscopy for detection of cellular inflammatory response, fibroblastic proliferation, foreign body reaction and capsule formation.

RESULTS: In the study group, a fibrous membrane indistinguishable from normal dura was observed macroscopically. There was significantly more fibroblastic proliferation in the study group compared to the control group in the first and second months. Foreign body reactions persisted in the control group whereas no reaction was detected in the study group in the third month and this difference was statistically significant. No capsule formation was observed in either group.

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest suitability of collagen matrix for duraplasty in the posterior fossa. Keywords : Collagen matrix, Duraplasty, Posterior fossa