Bone Paste

[BrendansMummy]

Have any of your children had bone paste? It looks like that will be the road we will be facing and i was just wondering what the surgery was like ( post op swelling, recovery time, results etc )

Also what are the pros and cons? Is there anything i should be asking at our appointment?

Thanks in advance :)

[AJ's Mommy]

They mentioned it at AJ's appointment if his soft spots don't close. They said it was a fairly easy surgery. Just opening back up the scar and putting the bone paste on the open spots. I would think that the swelling wouldn't be as bad but you never know. I hope someone else has some experience with this to help you.

[craniomommynbaby]

At Simon's last surgery, he had a full reconstruction and then fillings done. For his forehead, they did a triple layer of bone graft, mesh, and bone paste. For other holes and dents, they did bone paste. His recovery took about the same amount of time as the surgery when he was 6 months old, but the swelling went down faster because he was more upright. With just the paste, I understand that the procedure is way less invasive.
When we went into it, I was under the impression that the paste was supposed to harden and that several kids had problems with the paste being absorbed again. I asked his surgeons about it, and they said that the paste fills in at first and acts as a catalyst for the bone growth, eventually getting absorbed. The skull is pretty much done growing out in size at age 4-1/2 or 5, and then it is regenerating layers which fills holes and smooths out bumps. The bone layers are supposed to take the place of the paste.

[BrendansMummy]

Awesome, thanks ladies

[Jennifer]

Emily had it...it reabsorbed the first time, but the 2nd time it did fine. Same incision, she was out of the hospital in 24 hours, running around chasing her sisters w/ swollen eyes :giggle

[JDBtrigonobaby]

what's bone paste used for? does it fill in dents and bumps post-op? how far after post-op?

[BrendansMummy]

Thanks girls, i am a little less stress now :)

[BrendansMummy]

what's bone paste used for? does it fill in dents and bumps post-op? how far after post-op?

Brendan has some regression and trig 7 months post op. His head actually looks pretty awful. Normally they would just leave it until he is 5 or 6 and then fill in any dents with bone paste BUT his surgeon isnt happy and we are going in for an appointment to discuss surgery to fix it sooner.

Basically he will go back in and smooth his head over with this 'bone paste' rather than reconstructing again but reconstruction isnt completely out of the question.

[evergreenmom]

Lisa-

I don't remember for sure but seems to me I've read of some kids having serious issues with bone paste. I am always reading about cranio- here and anything I can find online so I'm not sure where I read about it. I just remember thinking it sounded sketchy. Not trying to freak you out momma- just make sure you really look into this before moving forward and make sure there is really an advantage to using the paste over another reconstruction. Best wishes and keep us posted...

[BrendansMummy]

Lisa-

I don't remember for sure but seems to me I've read of some kids having serious issues with bone paste. I am always reading about cranio- here and anything I can find online so I'm not sure where I read about it. I just remember thinking it sounded sketchy. Not trying to freak you out momma- just make sure you really look into this before moving forward and make sure there is really an advantage to using the paste over another reconstruction. Best wishes and keep us posted...


Yeah Dr.G told me to have a very long and very serious talk with our doctor and make sure all the answers are given. I think he said he will email me a list of questions to ask and that i should not go ahead unless i am satisfied with the situation.
I just wish this all was easy :sigh

[Janet]

All I was told was our surgeon uses a custom made implant...not sure what it's made of.
If you get that list of questions, can you forward it to me please?? :sigh

[BrendansMummy]

I sure will Janet

[RnB]

Bone paste was used in Elisa's (endoscopic) surgery. They built out around her temple so there is a slight bulge there on purpose, as they expect it will flatten as her own bone grows there. We have already seen a bit of a return to the asymmetry but mostly from the angles only a parent would see. We know that she will never be completely symmetrical, but at our 3 week post-op the doctors were very pleased with her appearance. We'll know more as she progresses, since the bone paste was a pretty new concept for us too.