Dural Graft Orientation: DURASHEET, Usable on Both Surfaces
DURASHEET is a dural graft usable from either surface. What this changes in the OR handover, what stays the same, and how it compares with DECOLL.
DURASHEET is a collagen dural graft that can be used from either surface, so the OR team has no designated side to identify before it reaches the defect. Either side of the membrane can be placed on the defect. This removes one check from the handover, while placement and closure remain the surgeon’s decision, following the instructions for use (IFU).
Key takeaways
- DURASHEET can be used from either surface, so there is no designated side for the team to identify.
- The property removes one orientation check; size, label and aseptic handling checks stay as they are.
- Placement, suturing and closure remain the surgeon’s decisions, made with the IFU.
- Either-surface use is specified for DURASHEET only; do not assume it for DECOLL.
Why does orientation matter for a dural graft?
A dural graft sits between neural tissue and the layers above it. Some sheet graft materials are made with two distinct faces, one intended to lie towards the brain or spinal cord and the other away from it. With a material of that kind, the team has to identify the correct face and keep track of it from the package to the defect.
That tracking is a real, if small, task. A membrane may be passed from the scrub nurse to the surgeon, measured against the defect and repositioned, and each step is a chance to lose track of which side is which.
What does “usable on both surfaces” mean for DURASHEET?
Either surface of DURASHEET can be used in application. For the team, that means:
- Neither side is reserved for facing the neural tissue.
- The team does not need to find a “this side down” face before passing the membrane.
- A membrane that has been turned over on the way to the field has not been put the wrong way up.
We recommend neither surface over the other.
What changes in the handover between scrub nurse and surgeon?
Only the orientation step. The rest of the sequence stays the same:
| Step | With DURASHEET |
|---|---|
| Confirm product and size on the label | Unchanged |
| Check package condition and use-by date | Unchanged |
| Prepare the membrane | No pre-processing required; supplied ready to use |
| Identify the correct face | Not needed; either surface can be used |
| Place and secure the graft | Surgeon’s decision, following the IFU |
Does this apply to both onlay and sutured use?
DURASHEET is applied as an onlay and is also suitable for suturing, with high tensile strength. Either-surface use is a general property of the membrane, not tied to one method. The choice between techniques belongs to the surgeon; our duraplasty technique article discusses how closure strategy relates to material choice.
Does DECOLL have the same property?
Do not assume so. DECOLL shares the material, the four sizes and the sterilisation method, but either-surface use is specified for DURASHEET only.
| Feature | DURASHEET | DECOLL |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Pure Type I bovine collagen | Pure Type I bovine collagen |
| Usable surface | Either surface | — |
| Suturability | Suitable | — |
| Application method | Onlay | Onlay |
| Sterilisation | Gamma | Gamma |
If a department stocks both, the team should know which membrane is on the table and check the IFU for each. The wider comparison is covered in DURASHEET vs DECOLL.
What stays with the surgeon?
Either-surface use answers one question only. These points are matters for the surgeon and the IFU:
- How much the graft should overlap the edges of the defect.
- Whether and how the membrane is trimmed to shape.
- How the graft is fixed, and with what suture or sealant, if any.
- Whether it can be repositioned once it has touched the wound.
When introducing DURASHEET to new staff, one sentence is enough for the orientation point: either surface can be used, for this product. The last three words matter on a shelf that also holds other membranes.
Talk to a DESU product specialist
If your team has a question about DURASHEET handling or wants the IFU and product documents, DESU’s product specialists can help. Write to sales@desu.tr, use the contact page, or request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Does either-surface use mean the membrane needs no label check?
No. Only the orientation step goes away. Product, size, use-by date and package condition are still checked before opening.
Which sizes of DURASHEET have this property?
The property applies to the product as a whole, and DURASHEET comes in four sizes: 2.5 × 2.5 cm (DRS2525), 5 × 5 cm (DRS5050), 7.5 × 7.5 cm (DRS7575) and 10 × 10 cm (DRS100100).
Is DURASHEET used only in cranial cases?
No. Its uses include dural defects after spinal tumour surgery and after trauma, as well as meningocele, myelomeningocele and surgical dural defects associated with lipoma.
Related standards
- ISO 22442 series: Medical devices utilizing animal tissues and their derivatives
- ISO 11137 series: Sterilization of health care products — Radiation