Department of Neurosurgery, Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust
Your Operation : Cranioplasty
Cranioplasty
A Cranioplasty is the term for any
operation in which a defect of the
skull bone is repaired.
Defects in the skull usually arise
because there has been some
previous surgery, during which part
of the skull was removed. A
traumatic injury is often the reason
this is done, but there are other
reasons including previous tumour
surgery or surgery for some forms of
stroke.
The main aim is to restore the
protection to the underlying brain
that the skull provides and to
improve the appearance of the skull
surface.
Cranioplasty
is
a
commonly
performed operation
and
the
potential
problems
are
well
understood.
Any operation close
the brain carries a small chance of a
seizure (fit) occurring, especially
during the first few days after
surgery.
There is a small risk of a
haemorrhage (bleed) happening
when the operation is complete. On
occasion, this means that a patient
has to be taken back to theatre to
remove a blood clot from the site of
the operation.
Figure : A side view skull X Ray
of a Cranioplasty showing an area
of mesh repair within the skull
bone.
At surgery under a general
anaesthetic, the previous scar, if
present, will be reopened and
sometimes extended to allow access
to the affected area. A repair is then
done using one of several materials
to reconstruct the skull defect.
Sometimes titanium is used either in
the form of mesh or a prefabricated
plate. Other alternatives are to use
the patient’s own skull bone which
can be sterilised and kept for this
purpose, or a repair with a special
cement may be done.
CranioplastyAug06v1
There is also a small risk of infection
which may occasionally require
removal of the new implant to treat
it.
There is a small chance of new
problems with brain function and the
most worrying of these would be the
chance of a stroke occurring. This
risk applies to the area of the brain
closest to the surgery.
There is a very small risk to life from
a cranioplasty which depends on the
precise operation being done and
also on the patient’s previous state
of health, especially considering any
previous heart or lung problems.
In general, we aim to have patients
back to normal mobility as soon as
possible.
You will require painkillers to cover
the period after surgery.
There may be an ongoing risk of a
seizure even after a successful
recovery, but this usually depends
on the underlying condition for which
the skull repair is being done.
A driving ban may apply depending
on the underlying brain condition.
You will be advised about this by the
consultant treating you and also by
the DVLA whom you should contact
, which supervises decisions about
driving.
The following website may be of interest:
www.bbsf.org.uk/pdf/Craniotomy .pdf.
Information regarding driving is available
via the DVLA website at:
www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/dmed1.htm
If there is anything you wish to discuss
please contact your consultant via his
secretary :
01708 435000 x 2822