Patent ID: 8241336

Claim:
A method of reattaching to a skull a skull flap removed from the skull to make an opening in the skull during brain surgery to provide an exposed area of dura and permit access to soft tissue of the brain, the skull flap having a perimeter contour, comprising the sequential steps of affixing to the skull flap at least one flange which can be disposed over and affixed to the skull flap and the skull, the flange having a projection extending downwardly from a lower surface thereof, the projection having an aperture and being positioned and sized to fit in a kerf between the skull flap and the skull, covering all of the exposed area of the dura or a portion of the exposed area of the dura located under the kerf with a dura cover, shaping at least one surgical strip to follow the perimeter contour of the skull flap and threading the at least one surgical strip through the aperture of the projection of the flange, and affixing the flange to the skull, thereby affixing the skull flap to the skull.