Cranioplasty after extensive decompressive craniotomy with displacement of the cerebral hemisphere. CA analysis (author's transl)

Abstract

Cosmetic aspects and protection of the brain from mechanical injuries are the most common indications for the repair of traumatic and operative cranial defects. We suggest two additional indications: Cranioplasty is not only important in the treatment of space-occupying fluid cysts, but also in preventing or overcoming hemisphere collapse with its resultant displacement of the midline structures. This complication was almost exclusively found in patients subjected to extensive lateral craniotomies and also led to psycho-organic syndromes with disturbances of mood and drive. In few cases a crippling hemiparesis and epileptiform fits were also present. The recovery of the patients was almost complete after the repair of the cranial defect. Clinical improvement was due to restitution of physiological intracranial pressure state and re-expansion of the cerebral hemispheres as could be shown by computer tomography. The operative procedure of auto-, homo- and heteroplastic cranioplasty is described, with particular emphasis on the new technique with acrylic plastic, developed by the authors.