Dura Mater Substitutes in Neurosurgery: A Review

The outer layer of the meninges, known as duramater plays a critical role in protecting the brain. In cases where it is damaged due to head trauma or surgery there can be a risk of leakage that may have life threatening consequences. While suturing to repair the mater is not always feasible due to the potential for further leakage finding biomaterials capable of replacing the damaged dura becomes essential. During the 19th century initial attempts at using synthetic materials for dural replacement faced challenges as they were rejected by the immune system. However researchers have made progress by developing materials such as collagen based xenografts that undergo treatments to prevent adverse reactions. This review focuses on types of dural replacement materials, like autografts, allografts, xenografts and synthetics. It sheds light on efforts to find an ideal neurosurgical dural replacement material while also discussing associated challenges.