The experimental significance of retained intracranial bone fragments

Abstract

✓ The relationship of retained intracerebral sterile bone, unsterile bone, and combined scalp and hair to the development of intracranial abscess was studied in the dog. Sterile bone and unsterile bone were associated with abscess development in 7% of the cases. Scalp-and-fur and scalp-fur-and-bone were associated with abscess formation in 69% of the cases. The study suggests that clusters of retained bone fragments may point to potential areas of contamination by skin and hair that justify reexploration, but that isolated bone fragment may be left in place.