====== Decompressive craniectomy classification ======

Depending on the location of the affected area, different surgical decompression techniques have been developed. In the presence of diffuse brain edema without a [[midline shift]], as commonly seen in [[traumatic brain injury]], bilateral (eg, bifrontal) craniectomy has been advocated. [[Hemicraniectomy]], or removal of a frontotemporoparietal bone flap, is suitable in patients with unilateral hemisphere swelling as seen after [[ischemic stroke]]
((Hutchinson P, Timofeev I, Kirkpatrick P. Surgery for brain edema. Neurosurg Focus.2007;22:E14)).

Accumulating experience over the years has led to increasing refinement of the surgical technique. The size of the removed bone fragment has been recognized as a factor of crucial importance for the generation of a sufficient decompressive effect
((Wagner S, Schnippering H, Aschoff A, Koziol JA, Schwab S, Steiner T. Suboptimum hemicraniectomy as a cause of additional cerebral lesions in patients with malignant infarction of the middle cerebral artery. J Neurosurg.2001;94:693–696 )).

see [[Hemicraniectomy]]- Unilateral decompressive craniectomy

see [[Bifrontal decompressive craniectomy]]

see [[Decompressive craniectomy for infants]]

see [[Suboccipital Decompressive Craniectomy]]