Reconstruction of congenital pseudarthrosis of the radius with a vascularized tibial periosteal transplant: A case report.

Congenital pseudarthrosis of the forearm poses a considerable challenge because of its rarity. The objective of this report is to introduce a novel surgical technique for its treatment. Here, we document a case of congenital pseudarthrosis of the radius in a 3-year-old boy diagnosed with type-1 neurofibromatosis. The surgical treatment involved the excision of approximately 9 cm of native radial periosteum and a bifocal radius osteotomy, which was supplemented with a vascularized tibial periosteal transplant to facilitate bone healing. Anastomosis between the anterior tibial vessels and radial vessels was performed. No immediate or late postoperative complications were observed. After 3 weeks, a robust callus formation was observed, and during a follow-up examination 3 years and 4 months later, a wide range of active forearm rotation was noted. This report suggests that vascularized periosteal flaps show promise as a viable treatment option for congenital pseudarthrosis of the forearm. They offer an alternative to vascularized fibular grafts or single-bone forearm constructs.

Two-Step Periosteal Releasing Incision for Tension-Free Flap Closure After Implant Placement With Simultaneous Guided Bone Regeneration.

We evaluated the effect of periosteal-releasing incisions on flap displacement in anterior maxillary sites following implant placement and simultaneously guided bone regeneration. Thirty patients, each requiring a single dental implant and guided bone regeneration in the maxillary esthetic zone, were recruited. After full-thickness flap elevation, the displacement of the flap was measured under a standardized tension of 1 Ncm. Then, a 2-step periosteal releasing incision was placed in the internal aspect of the flap, and the displacement was remeasured using the same standardized tension. Keratinized tissue width and mucosal thickness at the surgical site were recorded. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed at the 7- and 14-day recall visits. Flap displacement (primary outcome) was calculated before and after periosteal-releasing incisions. Multivariable linear regression models were used to evaluate the influence of mucosal thickness on flap displacement and adjusted for Keratinized tissue width. Primary wound closure was achieved in all patients. The mean difference in flap coronal displacement before and after the periosteal-releasing incisions was 8.2 mm (p < .0001). Adjusted regression models showed no association between mucosal thickness and keratinized tissue width with the amount of flap displacement (p = .770). Patient-reported outcome measures for pain, swelling, and bleeding amounted to 1.28 ± 1.93, 1.36 ± 1.87, and 0.0 ± 0.0 at 7 days and 0.11 ± 0.57, 0.56 ± 1.03, and 0.0 ± 0.0 at 14 days, respectively. Periosteal-releasing incisions using the 2-step procedure described here are a predictable technique to obtain coronal flap displacements >8 mm without increased surgical complications.

Tratamiento del Fisurado Labio Alvéolo Palatino (FLAP): casos clínicos y tratamiento interdisciplinario / Treatment of the cleft lip and palate (CLP) patient: case reports and interdisciplinary treatment

Objetivo: Describir el plan de tratamiento completo para el manejo de pacientes con fisura labio alvéolo palatina (F.L.A.P.), basado en nuestra experiencia clínica de más de 40 años. Casos clínicos: En nuestro protocolo consideramos fundamental el tratamiento ortopédico, teniendo en cuenta los tiempos de crecimiento y desarrollo del maxilar superior de cada paciente, para luego aplicar las técnicas quirúrgicas en un maxilar armónico, con un éxito más predecible. Se describirá una serie de casos clínicos con seguimiento de pacientes. Conclusión: Con este protocolo que pregonamos desde hace muchos años, nos diferenciamos principalmente de otras propuestas por considerar los tiempos biológicos de cada paciente en cuanto a crecimiento y desarrollo, y no por basarnos en tiempos quirúrgicos preestablecidos. Aplicando este protocolo obtenemos resultados predecibles que entendemos que solo son posibles de evaluar, al realizar el seguimiento del paciente hasta completar su desarrollo (AU)

Objective: To describe the comprehensive treatment plan aimed at managing patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP) on the basis of our more than forty years of clinical experience. Case reports: e orthopedic treatment is deemed fundamental in the present protocol, which takes into account the maxilla growth and development periods of each individual patient, to later perform a surgical technique in a harmonized maxilla, with a more predictable success. Clinical cases with the patient follow-up shall be described. Conclusion: e main difference between the present protocol that has been held for many years and others proposed approaches mainly lies in considering the unique growth and developmental biological stages of each patient and not in drawing on pre-established surgical timing. When applying this protocol, predictable results are achieved and they are only meant possible to be assessed during the thorough patient follow-up (AU)

Reconstrucción palpebral inferior mediante colgajo de periostio y colgajo de Mustardé / Lower palpebral reconstruction by periosteum flap and Mustardé flap

Paciente masculino de 68 años con carcinoma basocelular lobulado recidivado en inferior izquierdo con colgajo de Hughes hace 5 años y posterior recidiva al siguiente año con escisión en cuña. Actualmente, con una segunda recidiva, se realiza una resección amplia del 75% del total del párpado cuya congelación informa márgenes libres, reconstruido en el mismo acto quirúrgico: la lamela posterior con colgajo pediculado de periostio y la anterior con un colgajo de Mustardé. El paciente evoluciona con un buen sostén y posición palpebral, sin recurrencia del tumor.

A 68-year-old man with recurrent lobulated basal cell carcinoma of the left lower eyelid. She has a history of reconstruction of the lower left eyelid with Hughes flap 5 year sago and later recurrence the following year with wedge excision. Currently, with a second recurrence, resection was performed under frozen section technique and the defect of 75% width free of tumor, is reconstructed in the same surgical act: the posterior lamella with a pedicled periosteal flap and the anterior with a Mustardé flap. One year follow-up, the patient evolves with good support and eyelid position, without recurrence of the tumor.

Effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound exposure on rats tibia periosteum.

The periosteum is a rich source of osteoprogenitor cells and periosteal grafts can be used as an alternative method to replace bone grafts. The low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has often been used as a noninvasive method to stimulate osteogenesis and reduce the fracture healing time. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the ultrasound exposure on the rat tibia periosteum. Group I (7 animals) received LIPUS therapy on the left tibia for 7 days and group II (7 animals) on the left tibia for 14 days. After euthanasia, the tibias were processed. Number of periosteal cells and vessels and thickness of the periosteum were analyzed. The number of periosteal cells was higher in stimulated periosteum compared to controls at 7 and 14 days, but the number of vessels and the thickness only were higher in the group stimulated at 14 days. Furthermore, the ultrasound treatment for 14 days was more effective than 7 days. The ultrasound stimulation of the periosteum prior to grafting procedure can be advantageous, since it increases periosteal activity, and LIPUS may be an alternative method for stimulating the periosteum when the use of periosteal grafts in bone repair is needed.

Phosphorylation of chitosan to improve osteoinduction of chitosan/xanthan-based scaffolds for periosteal tissue engineering.

The periosteum is a membrane that surrounds bones, providing essential cellular and biological components for fracture healing and bone repair. Tissue engineered scaffolds able to function as periosteum substitutes can significantly improve bone regeneration in severely injured tissues. Efforts to develop more bioactive and tunable periosteal substitutes are required to improve the success of this tissue engineering approach. In this work, a chemical modification was performed in chitosan, a polysaccharide with osteoconductive properties, by introducing phosphate groups to its structure. The phosphorylated polymer (Chp) was used to produce chitosan-xanthan-based scaffolds for periosteal tissue engineering. Porous and mechanically reinforced matrices were obtained with addition of the surfactant Kolliphor® P188 and the silicone rubber Silpuran® 2130A/B. Scaffolds properties, such as large pore sizes (850-1097 µm), micro-roughness and thickness (0.7-3.5 mm in culture medium), as well as low thrombogenicity compared to standard implantable materials, extended degradation time and negligible cytotoxicity, enable their application as periosteum substitutes. Moreover, the higher adsorption of bone morphogenetic protein mimic (cytochrome C) by Chp-based formulations suggests improved osteoinductivity of these materials, indicating that, when used in vivo, the material would be able to concentrate native BMPs and induce osteogenesis. The scaffolds produced were not toxic to adipose tissue-derived stem cells, however, cell adhesion and proliferation on the scaffolds surfaces can be still further improved. The mineralization observed on the surface of all formulations indicates that the materials studied have promising characteristics for the application in bone regeneration.

Injertos óseos en el fisurado labio-alvéolo-palatino (FLAP): casos clínicos / Bone grafts in the cleft lip and palate (CLP) patient: clinical cases

Objetivo: mostrar el tratamiento que realizamos en comunicaciones a nivel del reborde alveolar en los FLAP, tanto para pacientes con fisura unilateral como bilateral, realizados con cresta ilíaca tomada del paciente y basados en nuestra experiencia de más de 40 años. Casos clínicos: nuestro protocolo está dentro de lo que es el tratamiento que proponemos para FLAP, ortopédico y quirúrgico, teniendo en cuenta el crecimiento y desarrollo del maxilar superior, realizando dentro de éste lo que son las periostioplastías y los injertos óseos, con el correspondiente seguimiento de pacientes en el tiempo. Conclusión: se realiza un protocolo adecuado para cada paciente, para realizar el cierre de la comunicación bucosinusal, teniendo siempre en cuenta el crecimiento y desarrollo de cada paciente y no un tiempo fijo en general para todos ellos. Nos diferenciamos de otras personas que lo hacen en forma sistemática en tiempos quirúrgicos preestablecidos, igual para todos los pacientes (AU)

O uso de enxerto e retalho de periósteo em Oftalmologia / The periosteal graft and flap use in Ophthalmology

Resumo Objetivo: Os autores revisaram o uso de periósteo em cirurgias oftalmológicas e seus resultados. Métodos: Uma revisão de literatura usando os bancos de dados do Google Scholar, PubMed e SciElo com todos os artigos sobre o uso de periósteo em Oftalmologia publicados de 1977 até 2018. Resultados: Um total de 21 estudos cumpriram o objetivo do estudo: 9 relatos de caso, 9 séries de casos, 1 coorte retrospective e 2 coortes prospectivas. 206 pacientes foram submetidos aos procedimentos cirúrgicos com uso de periósteo nas duas formas principais: enxerto e retalho. Os principais motivos para uso do periósteo foram: recobrimento de implante orbitário e reconstrução palpebral. Resultados cirúrgicos foram satisfatórios com baixas taxas de complicação de 10.67% e mínima necessidade de nova intervenção cirúrgica de 2.42%. Conclusão: O uso de periósteo em Oftalmologia é uma técnica promissora com bons resultados até o momento e deve sempre ser uma opção terapêutica para o Oftalmologista. Todavia, mais estudos com poder estatístico para sedimentação do conhecimento sobre o tema são recomendados.

Abstract Purpose: The authors reviewed the periosteum use in ophthalmic surgery and its results. Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature using Google Scholar, PubMed and SciElo databases with all articles about the periosteum use in Ophthalmology published from 1977 to 2018. Results: A total of 21 studies followed the review's purpose: 9 case reports, 9 case series, 1 retrospective cohort and 2 prospective cohorts. 206 patients were submitted to the procedures with the periosteum use in the two main forms: graft and flap. The principal reasons for periosteal use were: orbital implant covering and eyelid reconstruction. Surgical outcomes were very satisfactory with low complication rates of 10.67% and minimal necessity of new surgical intervention of 2.42%. Conclusion: The periosteum use in Ophtalmology is a promising technique with good results so far and should always be a therapeutic option for the ophthalmologist. However, based on available data in the literature, more studies with statistical power for knowledge sedimentation in this subject are recommended.

Periosteal Graft Myringoplasty: Our Experience

Abstract Introduction Different types of autologous graft materials are used for myringoplasty, with the temporalis fascia and cartilage being the most frequently used tissues. Periosteal tissue has been used for a long time in our department, and many advantages support its use in myringoplasty. To the best of our knowledge, this issue is scarcely discussed in the previously published literature. Objective To present our experience with periosteal graft myringoplasty, describing the technique and the anatomical and functional outcomes. Methods A prospective clinical study involving 88 patients (72 females and 16 males) with a mean age 26.9 years. The patients underwent myringoplasty using the mastoid cortex periosteum; they were all operated using the postauricular approach, and the graft was applied using the underlay technique. The patients performed pre- and postoperative pure tone audiometry for tested frequencies (0.5 kHz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz, and 4 kHz). All patients were followed-up for at least 12 months after the operation. Results The anatomical success rate among all patients was of 93%, which is comparable to the rate of success in procedures using other usual grafting materials. In addition, there was a highly significant postoperative improvement in pure tone audiometry results as compared with the preoperative ones (the main hearing gain was of ∼ 11 dB; p< 0.001). Conclusion The periosteal graft is easily harvested, easy to apply, with excellent anatomical and functional success.

Canine periosteal osteosarcoma / Osteosarcoma periosteal en perro

ABSTRACT Osteosarcoma is the most common bone tumor in dogs. The periosteal osteosarcoma is a subtype of osteosarcoma, and is considered rare in the canine species. The purpose of the present study was to describe a 14-year-old female dog with an ulcerated mass located in the right tibia and 30-days of evolution. The patient was submitted to complementary exams (blood count analysis, dosage of biochemical enzymes - creatinine and alanine aminotransferase, thoracic radiographs, and abdominal ultrasonography) to perform complete staging of the disease. Radiography of the right tibia revealed proliferative and lytic periosteal reaction. The cytological analysis of the mass suggested a round cell tumor. The clinical and the radiological findings indicated the presence of a bone tumor. Pelvic limb amputation was the initial surgical treatment suggested to the client. The histopathological examination revealed the presence of periosteal osteosarcoma with free margins and lymph nodes without evidence of tumor cells. Clinical follow-up was performed through imaging exams without evidence of metastatic disease. The dog had a nine-month survival free time from diagnosis.

RESUMEN El osteosarcoma es el tumor óseo más común en los perros. Osteosarcoma periosteal es un subtipo de osteosarcoma y se considera raro en la especie canina. El objetivo del presente estudio fue describir un caso de una perra mestiza de 14 años de edad con una masa ulcerada y localizada en la tibia derecha y 30 días de evolución. Él paciente se sometió a exámenes adicionales (análisis de sangre, dosis de enzimas bioquímicas - creatinina y alanina aminotransferasa, radiografías torácicas y ultrasonografía abdominal) para la estadificacion completa de la enfermedad. La radiografía de la tibia derecha reveló reacción perióstica proliferativa y lítica. Él examen citológico de la masa sugirió un tumor de celulas redondas. La evaluación clínica y hallazgos radiológicos sugieren la presencia de una neoplasia ósea. La amputación de la extremidad pélvica derecha fue el tratamiento quirúrgico inicial sugerido al cliente. Él examen histopatológico reveló la presencia de osteosarcoma periosteal con márgenes libres y ganglios linfáticos sin evidencia de células tumorales. El seguimiento clínico se realizó a través de exámenes de imágenes sin evidencia de enfermedad metastásica. El perra tenía un tiempo de sobrevida de nueve meses desde el diagnóstico.

Use of a Non-Crosslinked Collagen Membrane During Guided Bone Regeneration Does Not Interfere With the Bone Regenerative Capacity of the Periosteum.

PURPOSE: To assess whether the use of a non-crosslinked porcine collagen type I and III bi-layered membrane inter-positioned between the periosteum and a bone defect would interfere with the bone regenerative capacity of the periosteum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty rats, each with 1 critical-size calvarial defect (CSD; diameter, 5 mm) in the parietal bone, were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 equal-size groups after CSD creation: 1) the periosteum was excised and the flap was repositioned without interposition of a membrane (no-periosteum [NP] group); 2) the flap including the periosteum was repositioned (periosteum [P] group); and 3) a non-crosslinked collagen membrane was inter-positioned between the flap, including the periosteum, and the bone defect (membrane [M] group). Micro-computed tomography, qualitative histology, immunohistochemistry, and reverse transcription real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed at 3, 7, 15, and 30 days postoperatively. RESULTS: A markedly increased radiographic residual defect length was observed in the NP group compared with the P group at 30 days. The NP group also presented a smaller radiographic bone fill area than the P group at 15 and 30 days and then the M group at 30 days. The P and M groups exhibited considerably greater expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 and osteocalcin than the NP group at 7 days; expression of transforming growth factor-ß1 was considerably greater in the NP group at 15 days. Further, the P group presented considerably higher gene expression levels of Runx2 and Jagged1 at 7 days and of alkaline phosphatase at 3 and 15 days compared with the M and NP groups. CONCLUSION: Interposition of this specific non-crosslinked collagen membrane between the periosteum and the bone defect during guided bone regeneration interferes only slightly, if at all, with the bone regenerative capacity of the periosteum.

Dehiscences and fenestrations: methodological care necessary to avoid errors in diagnosis and measurement.

The low prevalence of gingival recessions observed in orthodontic clinical practice may be assigned to the fact that in studies in which dehiscences and bone fenestrations are described as frequent, they were diagnosed based on: 1) dry skull studies; 2) areas with periosteal reflection together with flap; and 3) imaging techniques with low sensitivity to detect these defects, which have a delicate structure and function. In areas of pseudo-dehiscences and fenestrations, the periosteum and the alveolar cortical bone are very thin; also, they either have been removed during preparation of the dry specimens in the areas for analysis, or, alternatively, have not been investigated using an ideal imaging method.

Dehiscences and fenestrations: methodological care necessary to avoid errors in diagnosis and measurement

ABSTRACT The low prevalence of gingival recessions observed in orthodontic clinical practice may be assigned to the fact that in studies in which dehiscences and bone fenestrations are described as frequent, they were diagnosed based on: 1) dry skull studies; 2) areas with periosteal reflection together with flap; and 3) imaging techniques with low sensitivity to detect these defects, which have a delicate structure and function. In areas of pseudo-dehiscences and fenestrations, the periosteum and the alveolar cortical bone are very thin; also, they either have been removed during preparation of the dry specimens in the areas for analysis, or, alternatively, have not been investigated using an ideal imaging method.

RESUMO A ausência de prevalência elevada das recessões gengivais relacionadas à prática clínica ortodôntica se explica, provavelmente, porque, nos trabalhos em que as deiscências e fenestrações ósseas são descritas como frequentes, essas foram diagnosticadas a partir de: 1) estudos em crânios secos; 2) áreas com rebatimento periosteal junto com o retalho; e 3) uso de métodos imagiológicos que falham em sensibilidade para captá-las, pela sua delicadeza estrutural e funcional. Nessas áreas de pseudodeiscências e fenestrações, existe periósteo e cortical óssea alveolar muito fina, que foram eliminados nos procedimentos de preparação dos espécimes secos, nas áreas para a análise ou, então, não se aplicou um método imagiológico ideal.

Osseous Flap of Galea and Periosteum Filled With Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Platelet-Rich Plasma, Bone Dust, and Hyaluronic Acid.

Reconstructive surgery to craniofacial deformities caused by tumor ressections, traumas or congenital malformation are frequent in medicine practice. It aims to provide the patients with better quality of life and functional improvement of speech, breathing, chewing, and swallowing. Many are the techniques described in the literature to recover bone defects. This study evaluated a vascularized galeal and periosteum flap in rabbits, which could possibly substitute the bone graft in reconstructive surgery, especially for facial defects. It involved rabbits, divided into 12 groups, submitted to a surgical procedure to construct the galea and periosteum cranial flap filled with fragments of cranial bone, platelet-rich plasma, mesenchimal stem cells, and hyaluronic acid. The evaluation methods included image examinations and histological analysis.The results demonstrated bone formation with the use of platelet-rich plasma, mesenchimal stem cells, and bone fragments. The use of several enrichment materials of osseous cellular stimulation improved the quality and bone tissue organization. The more enrichment factor used, the better the tissue quality result was.Much research should be done to improve the methods and to analyze if results in human have the same bone formation as it happened in rabbits.

Palatal Pleomorphic Adenoma in a Pediatric Patient: Case Report / Adenoma Pleomorfo Palatino en un Paciente Pediátrico: Reporte de Caso

Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common benign neoplasm of salivary glands. Their common location is in parotid gland, however, a lower percentage of these tumors might occur in minor glands. The epidemiology of this tumor shows that adults are the most affected, with rare occurrence in children or adolescents. We present the case report of pleomorphic adenoma located on the palate of a 10 year old. Excisional biopsy of the lesion followed by histopathologic examination of the biopsy specimen revealed ductal structures surrounded by plasmacytoid mioepithelial cells within a myxoid stroma, the final diagnosis corresponded to Pleomorphic Adenoma. Early detection and excision of this lesion in children are important to minimize potential recurrences or malignant transformation.

El adenoma pleomorfo es la neoplasia benigna más común de las glándulas salivales. Su localización común está en glándula parótida, sin embargo, un bajo porcentaje de estos tumores puede ocurrir en glándulas menores. La epidemiología de este tumor muestra que los adultos son los más afectados, con rara ocurrencia en niños o adolescentes. Presentamos el caso de un adenoma pleomorfo localizado en el paladar de un niño de 10 años. La biopsia excisional de la lesión seguida de examen histopatológico de la muestra de biopsia reveló estructuras ductales rodeadas por células mioepiteliales plasmocitóides dentro de un estroma mixoide, siendo el diagnóstico final adenoma pleomorfo. La detección temprana y la excisión de esta lesión en los niños es importante para minimizar las recidivas potenciales o la transformación maligna.

Recobrimento radicular empregando ativação do periósteo em recessão gengival ampla / Surgical coverage of wide gingival recession using periosteal activation

A recessão gengival caracteriza-se pela migração apical da margem da gengiva, expondo a superfície radicular. Esta condição pode acarretar o desenvolvimento de hiperestesia dentinária, lesões cariosas e/ou comprometimento da estética. O tratamento por cirurgias de recobrimento radicular nem sempre é previsível, especialmente em recessões amplas e profundas, e o deslize lateral do retalho é uma das técnicas que pode ser ou não associada ao enxerto de conjuntivo subepitelial. A ativação do periósteo previamente a essa cirurgia não tem sido muito explorada nas publicações, embora exista há quase 40 anos. Este relato clínico demonstra a associação da técnica do deslize lateral do retalho à ativação do periósteo para recobrimento radicular de recessão ampla classe II de Miller, cuja queixa principal era insatisfação estética e sensibilidade dentinária. O conhecimento biológico e a correta realização da técnica, associados à eliminação do agente etiológico e rigoroso acompanhamento pós-cirúrgico, resultaram no sucesso do tratamento, como atestado pelo controle de um ano e cinco meses.

Gingival recession is characterized by the apical migration of the gingival margin that exposes the dental root surface. This condition can lead to the development of dentinal hyperesthesia, carious lesions and/or aesthetic impairment. The surgical treatment for root coverage not always provides predictable results, especially in wide and deep recessions. The horizontal sliding flap associated or not to subepithelial conjunctive grafts is a commonly employed technique, but periosteal activation prior to surgery has not been much explored in the literature, although it has existed for almost 40 years. This clinical case reports the association of horizontal sliding fl ap with the activation of the periosteum to recover a wide Miller class II recession in a patient complaining of poor aesthetic and dentin sensitivity. The biological knowledge applied to a skillful technique, associated to the elimination of the etiologic agent and rigorous post-surgical follow-up provided a succesful outcome after 1 year and 5 month observations.

Risk factors leading to mucoperiosteal flap necrosis after primary palatoplasty in patents with cleft palate.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have been published reporting risk factors for flap necrosis after primary palatoplasty in patients with cleft palate. This complication is rare, and the event is a disaster for both the patient and the surgeon. This study was performed to explore the associations between different risk factors and the development of flap necrosis after primary palatoplasty in patients with cleft palate. METHODS: This is a case-control study. A 20 years retrospective analysis (1994-2015) of patients with nonsyndromic cleft palate was identified from medical records and screening day registries). Demographical and risk factor data were collected using a patient´s report, including information about age at surgery, gender, cleft palate type, and degree of severity. Odds ratios and 95% confident intervals were derived from logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: All cases with diagnoses of flap necrosis after primary palatoplasty were included in the study (48 patients) and 156 controls were considered. In multivariate analysis, female sex, age (older than 15 years), cleft type (bilateral and incomplete), and severe cleft palate index were associated with significantly increased risk for flap necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that female sex, older age, cleft type (bilateral and incomplete), and severe cleft palatal index may be associated with the development of flap necrosis after primary palatoplasty in patients with cleft palate.

Characterization and morphological comparison of human dura mater, temporalis fascia, and pericranium for the correct selection of an autograft in duraplasty procedures.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to characterize and compare the morphological characteristics of the dura mater, the pericranium, and the temporal fascia to ascertain the most adequate tissue to use as a dura graft. METHODS: 20 dura mater, 20 pericranium and 20 temporalis fascia samples were analyzed. Each of the samples was stained with hematoxylin and eosin, orcein, Van Gieson, Masson's trichrome and Verhoeff-Van Gieson (600 slides in total) for a general morphological evaluation, as well as a quantitative, morphometric and densitometric analysis of elastic fibers present in each of the tissues. RESULTS: The micro-densitometric analysis of the tissues indicated that the area occupied by the elastic fibers showed values of 1.766 ± 1.376, 4.580 ± 3.041, and 8.253 ± 4.467 % for the dura mater, the temporalis fascia and the pericranium, respectively (p < 0.05, all pairs). The values observed in the analysis of the density intensity were 3.42E+06 ± 2.57E+06, 1.41E+07 ± 1.28E+07, and 1.63E+07 ± 9.19E+06 for the dura mater, the temporalis fascia and the pericranium, respectively (p < 0.05), dura mater vs. temporalis fascia and dura mater vs. pericranium). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to compare the dura mater with tissues for dural autograft and to quantify the elastic component present in these tissues. The results indicate that the temporalis fascia is a better dural graft because of its intrinsic tissue properties.