Value
Cranioplasty is a method of surgically reconstructing the bones of the skull after injury or surgery.
The operation allows:
- to correct a cosmetic defect,
- eliminate the risk of brain injury due to a bone defect,
- prevent the formation of scar adhesions in this area.
Indications for surgery
- Elimination of the possibility of re-injury (brain protection);
- Post-traumatic epilepsy;
- “Trepanned skull syndrome”;
- Elimination of a cosmetic defect.
Timing of cranioplasty in the presence of non-penetrating traumatic injuries to the skull , as well as after surgical interventions for closed fractures, cranioplasty is performed either immediately during the operation or within a month after it.
In case of:
- penetrating skull injuries ,
- severe brain injuries,
- infectious complications ,
It would be optimal to perform plastic closure of the bone defect within 12 months after the traumatic brain injury .
Methods
Currently, several materials are used for plastic closure of bone defects:
- own bone tissue (fragment of the cranial vault , which was removed during skull decompression surgery),
- polymeric materials
- You are metal.
When using autologous bone grafting, there is a possibility of gradual bone resorption, which limits its use. The most common method is xenoplasty using artificial materials (metals, polymers) or their combination.
These methods of cranioplasty have no limitations related to the size of the bone defect. The materials for cranioplasty are highly reliable and resistant to external influences.
Before surgery, technology such as stereolithographic modeling of the skull bones can be used to manufacture implants.
Advantages
This technology makes it possible to practically:
- ideally close the bone defect,
- recreating the remote bone flap as accurately as possible.
Based on a three-dimensional model of the patient’s skull, an individual stereolithographic plate is made, which exactly repeats all the curves of the skull. Thanks to this advance production of the plates, the operation time is significantly reduced.
Operation
The operation begins with exposing the bone defect and dissecting the adhesions, after which the modeled plate is placed and fixed with screws.
Cranioplasty surgery in the neurosurgical department is performed by experienced and qualified specialists.
The use of the latest examination and treatment methods combined with the professionalism of the department’s staff ensure a high level of medical care, guaranteeing the effectiveness and safety of the surgical intervention.
