Fascia lata graft as a dural substitute in neurosurgery.

We present 37 cases in which fascia lata was used for dural patching when there was inadequate regional tissue, such as pericranium or temporalis fascia to repair the dural defect. Operative indications included tumor in 17 patients (46%), trauma in nine (25%), cerebrospinal fluid fistula in seven (19%), infection in two (5%), dural patching in two (5%). Follow-up ranged from one month to five years, with an average follow-up of two years. There were no cranial or spinal complications related to the fascia lata grafting (including cerebrospinal fluid leakage, meningitis, and wound infection). Fascia lata is relatively simple to obtain, but harvesting necessitates a second incision; this second incision resulted in no complications in our patients.