[Treatment of skull defects by using plastic material "Codubix"].

Early and late results of surgical treatment of cranial vault defects with Codubix prosthesis in 46 cases are presented. Early after the operation purulent complications were not observed. The main problem of normal healing-in of the prostheses was at that time accumulation of subgaleal haematoma which was observed in five patients (10.8%). Late complications necessitating removal of Codubix prosthesis occurred in four cases (8.7%). In one patient Codubix treatment led to meningitis due to late cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea and in the second case staphylococcal infection was diagnosed 4 month after the operation. In 2 remaining cases prosthesis became movable 5 and 21 months after operation and became depressed by several millimeters. The inquiry sent to the patients for obtaining information on their present health was answered by 70% of them, and four reported slight, stable depression of the plate. The remaining ones reported no complications. In 91% of cases the patients regarded the cosmetic effect of the operation as good and 9% as unsatisfactory. Codubix is good material for filling of bone defects. It heals in quickly, produces rarely purulent complications, but requires very careful fixation.