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Unusual complications of bone wax at the skull base

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 February 2021

R Panicker ,
R K Moorthy  and
V Rupa
R Panicker
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
R K Moorthy
Affiliation:
Department of Neurological Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
V Rupa*
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
*
Author for correspondence: Dr V Rupa, Department of ENT, Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore632004, India E-mail: rupavedantam@cmcvellore.ac.in
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Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to describe the clinical presentation, microbiological profile and management of complications of bone wax usage for surgical procedures at the skull base.

Method

The case records of a series of five patients who developed post-operative surgical site complications because of bone wax usage during skull base surgery were reviewed.

Results

In all five patients, persistent site-specific clinical features were noted along with intra-operative presence of excessive bone wax. Three unique cases of presentation, one with a fungal brain abscess because of Aspergillus flavus infection, another with fungal osteomyelitis because of Trichosporon beigelii infection and a third with intradural migration of bone wax into the cerebellopontine angle cistern are highlighted.

Conclusion

The presentation of surgical site infection at the skull base because of excessive use of bone wax can be manifold. The need for testing appropriate cultures including fungal culture is highlighted.

Keywords

Bone WaxBrain Abscess MicrobiologySurgical Wound InfectionFungus Infection
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 135 , Issue 3 , March 2021 , pp. 217 - 223
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

Dr V Rupa takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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