Living a Fulfilled Life

Nearly thirty years ago, Amy Mosebrook married her high school sweetheart, Jeff. Together, they became loving parents to nine wonderful children. “I’ve always felt like I was meant to be a wife and mom,” said Amy. With a household that is bustling, Amy is always on the go. But that wasn’t always the case.

Amy had suffered from migraines for years. Some were ocular in nature, and at one point even caused blindness in one eye for a short period of time. At age 38, the migraines began to intensify, causing pain across the side of her face, and visual disturbances began to appear. She even experienced problems with arm movement and range of motion. Her doctor ordered an MRI, which showed that Amy was suffering from Chiari Malformation Type 1.

“This is a condition where the hindbrain is crowded at the base of the skull and can herniate through the skull at the opening called the foramen magnum,” said Amy’s neurosurgeon, Dr. Michael Yoon. “When that happens, the classic patient symptom is severe headaches.”

At the time of the diagnosis, Jeff had been with Integra for over ten years as a member of the finance team and Amy was focused on raising their nine children, several of whom were toddlers. Chasing them around, picking them up and even just getting through a typical day had become increasingly difficult. “I think that’s what finally pushed me to say, something needs to be done.”

The solution was neurosurgery. Dr. Yoon carefully made an incision in the middle of the back of Amy’s head and neck, drilled off a portion of bone to create a larger opening where the hindbrain was herniating and then opened the dura, which is the membrane around the brain and spinal cord. That's when two of Integra’s dural repair products were utilized – DuraGen® Suturable Regeneration Matrix and DuraSeal® Dural Sealant System. “I believe Integra makes two of the best products for sealing the dura,” said Dr. Yoon.

DuraGen Suturable is a dual-use, onlay-suturable dural graft reinforced with a second layer of Ultra-Pure Collagen™ for added strength to support a running suture, if desired. DuraSeal is a PEG hydrogel cranial dural sealant used to strengthen the repair and support the body's natural healing process.1

“You never think you’re going to be on the other side of the patient story,” said Jeff, who is now the senior vice president of finance and principal accounting officer for Integra. “Our family experienced firsthand how Integra’s medical technologies can help restore lives.”

It’s been several years since Amy’s surgery. She continues to feel much better and hasn’t experienced dizziness episodes or any visual disturbances. She’s a happier mom, willing to jump in and participate in the family’s many activities, which now includes keeping up with their four grandchildren! “I couldn’t imagine my life any other way.” said Amy. 

“If I wouldn’t have had the surgery, I don’t think our family’s story would be quite the same.”

Note: Clinical results may vary.

Product Information

1 Preul, Application of a hydrogel sealant improves watertight closures of duraplasty onlay grafts in a canine craniotomy model, AANS, Vol 107: Sept. 2007 pages 642-650.


DuraGen® Dual Graft Matrix

Indications for Use

DuraGen matrix is indicated as a dura substitute for the repair of dura mater.

Contraindications

DuraGen matrix is not designed, sold or intended for use except as described

in the indications for use and is contraindicated in the following situations:

  • For patients with a known history of hypersensitivity to bovine derived materials.
  • For repair of spinal neural tube defects; anterior spinal surgery with dural resection (e.g., transoral surgery).
  • Should be used with caution in infected regions. 
  • Not recommended to cover dural defects involving mastoid air cells.
  • Not recommended for large defects at the skull base following surgery.

Warnings

  • Do Not Resterilize!
  • Do not use if the product package is damaged or opened.
  • DuraGen matrix is generally not recommended for extensive skull base surgery with dural resection, however; DuraGen matrix can be used to augment other forms of specific repair (i.e., Fascia lata).

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DuraSeal® Dural Sealant System

Indications for Use

The DuraSeal Dural Sealant System is intended for use as an adjunct to sutured dural repair during cranial surgery to provide watertight closure.

Contraindications

  • Do not apply the DuraSeal hydrogel to confined bony structures where nerves are present since neural compression may result due to hydrogel swelling.
  • The hydrogel may swell up to 50% of its size in any direction.

Warnings

The safety and effectiveness of the DuraSeal hydrogel has not been studied in:

  • Patients with a known allergy to FD&C Blue #1 dye.
  • Patients undergoing a contaminated cranial procedure that entails a dural incision involving penetration
  • (other than superficial) of the air sinus or mastoid air cells.
  • Patients with severely altered renal or hepatic function.
  • Patients with a compromised immune system or autoimmune disease.
  • Procedures involving petrous bone drilling.
  • Patients with traumatic injuries to the head.
  • Procedures involving non-autologous duraplasty materials that are not collagen based.
  • Do not use if an active infection is present at the surgical site.