Cranioplasty is a surgical procedure that repairs irregularity or imperfection of skull after craniectomy for several causes such as traumatic or vascular insults. This is done to restore cerebral protection, improve cosmesis, normalize intracranial pressure, and provide an intact skull vault. After cranioplasty, delayed infection and bone resorption are two common complications and the estimat...

AIM We set out to investigate the optimal timing for shunt placement in patients with hydrocephalus after decompressive craniectomy (DC). MATERIAL AND METHODS We studied 63 consecutive patients that underwent DC because of traumatic brain injury, middle cerebral artery infarct or intracerebral hemorrhage. Hydrocephalus was diagnosed in 23/63 patients. The 23 patients were divided into two gro...

BACKGROUND Intractable chronic scalp ulcers with cranial bone exposure can occur along the incision after cranioplasty, posing challenges for clinicians. They occur as a result of severe scarring, poor blood circulation of the scalp, and focal osteomyelitis. We successfully repaired these scalp ulcers using a vascularized bipedicled pericranial flap after complete debridement. METHODS Six pat...

BACKGROUND Intracranial hypertension is a well-known life-threatening complication of bacterial meningitis. Investigations on decompressive craniectomy after failure of conservative management are scarce, but this surgical treatment should be considered and performed expeditiously, as it lowers the intracranial pressure and improves brain tissue oxygenation. Early cranioplasty can further aid t...

INTRODUCTION In patients with traumatic brain injury, an effective approach for managing refractory intracranial hypertension is wide decompressive craniectomy. Postoperative hydrocephalus is a frequent complication requiring cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion. PRESENTATION OF CASE A 50-year-old male who underwent decompressive craniectomy after traumatic brain injury. He developed hydroceph...

The calvaria is covered by a thin, well-vascularized soft-tissue envelope, providing a rich environment for a variety of local and regional flaps.1 Composite cranial vault restoration aims to protect the brain and restore cranial form. Primary reconstructions result in good outcomes, provided there is adequate quality and quantity of soft tissue. The complexity also increases with the size and ...