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CC BY 4.0 · Indian Journal of Neurotrauma 2023; 20(02): 124-132
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1760419
Original Article

Complications after Cranioplasty: A Pictorial Narrative with Techniques to Manage and Avoid the Same

Dimble Raju
1   Department of Neurosurgery, National Neurosciences Centre, Calcutta, West Bengal, India
,
Rajesh Bhosle
1   Department of Neurosurgery, National Neurosciences Centre, Calcutta, West Bengal, India
,
Shamshuddin Patel
1   Department of Neurosurgery, National Neurosciences Centre, Calcutta, West Bengal, India
,
Asis Kumar Bhattacharyya
1   Department of Neurosurgery, National Neurosciences Centre, Calcutta, West Bengal, India
,
Grandhi Aditya
1   Department of Neurosurgery, National Neurosciences Centre, Calcutta, West Bengal, India
,
Prasad Krishnan 
1   Department of Neurosurgery, National Neurosciences Centre, Calcutta, West Bengal, India
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Abstract

Background Cranioplasty following decompressive craniotomy is considered to be a “routine procedure” but several large series have documented a significant amount of both delayed and immediate complications and also a mortality rate of up to 3.6%.

Materials and Methods We went through some of the salient complications (excluding seizures) needing resurgery following interval cranioplasty over the past 18 years at our institution in over 300 cases and analyzed the literature that mention these complications and their treatment.

Results In addition to the commonly mentioned complications, we found some that had been rarely described or not mentioned hitherto in the literature which we have presented as a pictorial narrative. Based on our experience, we recommend some measures that may decrease the incidence or prevent the occurrence of the same.

Conclusions Attention to small but basic surgical techniques will go a long way in preventing unwanted postoperative events.

Keywords

decompressive craniotomy - cranioplasty - complications - infection - bone flap resorption - flap mobility - epidural fluid collection - extradural hemorrhage - flap subsidence


Publication History

Article published online:
18 January 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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