Decompressive craniectomy case series

From January 2017 to December 2021, valid follow-up data were collected in 192 cases. The observation group preferred cranioplasty and then evaluated whether to receive a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) according to the progress of hydrocephalus. the control group was prioritized for VPS and continued with CP after 1 week. The improvement of hydrocephalus symptoms, follow-up outcomes, and postoperative complications before and after surgery was compared between the two groups, and univariate analysis was used to determine the risk factors for necessary permanent risk factors for VPS.

There were 86 cases (44.8%) in the observation group, who received CP first, while 106 cases (55.2%) in the control group received VPS and CP, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups according to the Barthel index, FMAS, Mrs, GCS, and Evans index, and there was no statistical difference in complications between the two groups. However, in the observation group, hydrocephalus disappeared after CP operation in 29 cases (33.7%), and finally avoided VPS. Univariate analysis showed that the main etiology was related to the size of the skull defect, the distance of the talus margin relative to the flap to the midline, and lumbar puncture pressure was a predictor of the need for permanent VPS.

Conclusion: This study provides detailed information on the efficacy and complications of different sequences of preferential CP or VPS after DC surgery. We found that priority CP reduced the incidence of VPS surgery without affecting surgical outcomes and complications ¹⁾.

Sixty-one bone flaps from 53 consecutive DC surgery patients were retrospectively included and the study period was divided into before and after method implementation. Patient demographics, laboratory and culture results, type of CP and occurrence of SSI were analyzed.

Results: Twenty-six and 18 bone flaps were available for analysis during the first and second periods, respectively. The proportion of positive bacterial cultures was higher in the first period compared to the second (n ​= ​9(35%) vs 0(0%); p ​= ​0.001), and thus the use of custom-made implants was considerably higher in the first study period (p ​= ​0.001). There was no difference in the frequency of post-cranioplasty SSI between the first and second study periods (n ​= ​3 (11.5%) vs 1 (4.8%), p ​= ​0.408).

Discussion and conclusion: The new method for handling bone flaps resulted in a lower frequency of positive bacterial cultures, without increased frequency of post-cranioplasty SSI, thus demonstrating it is safe to use, allows compliance with the EU-directives, and may reduce unnecessary discarding of bone flaps ²⁾.

All cases of unilateral DC performed to control refractory increased intracranial pressure due to cerebral edema during a seven and a half year-period were included. Demographic and injury-related data were collected by retrospective chart review. The patients were categorized in two groups: 21 patients with a “small flaps”; and 9 patients with a “large flap”.

The 2 groups had similar pre-operative characteristics. The amount of CSF drained and the doses of hyperosmolar therapy given were not different between the 2 groups. The post-operative ICP was significantly lower for the large craniectomy flap group: 13.3 mmHg CI99%[12.7, 13.8] versus 16.9 mmHg CI99% [16.5, 17.2], (p = 0.01) and this difference was maintained for 96 hours post-operatively.

Better ICP control was achieved in patients who underwent a large decompressive craniectomy (ratio > 65%) when compared to smaller craniectomy sizes. The proposed method of measuring the craniectomy size, to our knowledge, is the first to take into account the patient's head size and can be easily measured intra-operatively ³⁾.

A total of 1841 cases of decompressive craniectomy (DC) were performed over 10 years in 51 centers. Mean age at procedure was 50.9 years, 18% were above 60 years, and 64.4% were male. There was a significant increase in DC for malignant middle cerebral artery infarction (MCI) over the 10 years (p < 0.001), and the annual volume of procedures more than doubled (95/year vs. 243/year). Early survival at one week and one month was 86%, 95%CI (84.5, 87.6) and 79.7%, 95%CI (77.8, 81.5), respectively. Long-term survival at 1 and 5 years were 73.6%, 95%CI (71.6, 75.7) and 68.9%, 95%CI (66.5, 71.4), respectively. Patients below 60 years at the time of DC (HR = 0.5; 95%CI [0.4, 0.7], p < 0.001), DC being performed in a center with a high surgical activity (HR = 0.8; 95%CI [0.6, 0.9], p = 0.002), and the patients having unimpaired consciousness (HR = 0.6; 95%CI [0.5, 0.8], p < 0.001) were associated with increased survival in both univariate and adjusted Cox regressions. 18.7% of the survivors had a cranioplasty inserted within 3 months and 57.8% within 6 months. The probability of having a cranioplasty at one year was 75.6%, 95%CI (77.9, 73.1).

Over the past 10 years in France, decompressive craniectomy (DC) has been increasingly performed for malignant middle cerebral artery infarction (MCI) regardless of age. However, in-hospital mortality remains considerable, as about one-quarter of patients died within the first weeks. For those who survive beyond 6 months, the risk of death significantly decreases. Early mortality is especially high for comatose patients above 60 years operated in inexperienced centers. Most of those who remain in good functional status tend to undergo a cranioplasty within the year following DC ⁴⁾.

A total of 1,236 patients with TBI operated with a DC from January 2008 to December 2013 at a tertiary care hospital were included in the study. The data from the hospital computerized database was retrospectively analyzed and 324 (45%) patients were followed-up for a mean duration of 25.3 months (range 3-42 months) among the cohort of 720 alive patients. The institute's ethical committee clearance was obtained before the start of the study.

There were 81% males with a median age [interquartile range (IQR)] of 32 (23-45) years. The mortality rate and median (IQR) Glasgow outcome score (GOS) at discharge in patients presenting with minor, moderate, and severe head injury were 18%, 5 (4-5); 28%, 4 (1-5); and 47.4%, 2 (1-4), respectively. An overall favorable outcome (GOS 4 and 5) at discharge was observed in 46.5% patients and in 39% patients who presented with severe TBI. Only 7.5% patients were in a persistent vegetative state (PVS), while 78% had an overall favorable outcome at the last follow-up of surviving patients (P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, the factors predictive of a favorable GOS at discharge were: a younger age (odds ratio (OR) 1.03, confidence interval (CI) = 1.02-1.04; P < 0.001), no pupillary abnormalities at admission (OR 2.28, CI = 1.72-3.02; P < 0.001), absence of preoperative hypotension (OR 1.91, CI = 1.08-3.38; P = 0.02), an isolated TBI (OR 1.42, CI = 1.08-1.86; P = 0.01), absence of a preoperative infarct (OR 3.68, CI = 1.74-7.81; P = 0.001), presence of a minor head injury (OR 6.33, CI = 4.07-9.86; P < 0.001), performing a duraplasty (OR 1.86, CI = 1.20-2.87; P = 0.005) rather than a slit durotomy (OR 3.95, CI = 1.67-9.35; P = 0.002), and, avoidance of a contralateral DC (OR 3.58, CI = 1.90-6.73; P < 0.001).

The severity of head injury, performing a duraplasty rather than a slit durotomy, avoidance of a contralateral DC, and the presence of preoperative hypotension, infarct, and/or pupillary asymmetry have the highest odds of predicting the short term GOS at the time of discharge, after a DC in patients with TBI. Although DC carries a high risk of mortality, the probability of the survivors having a favorable outcome is significantly more as compared to those who remain in a PVS ⁵⁾.

From January 2006 to December 2009, 41 patients underwent DC after closed head injury. Study outcomes focused specifically on the development of hydrocephalus after DC. Variables described by other authors to be associated with posttraumatic hydrocephalus (PTH) were studied, including advanced age, the timing of cranioplasty, higher score on the Fisher grading system, low post-resuscitation Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) infection. We also analyzed the influence of the area of craniotomy and the distance of craniotomy from the midline. Logistic regression was used with hydrocephalus as the primary outcome measure. Of the nine patients who developed hydrocephalus, eight patients (89%) had undergone craniotomy with the superior limit <25 mm from the midline. This association was statistically significant (p = 0.01 - Fisher's exact test). Logistic regression analysis showed that the only factor independently associated with the development of hydrocephalus was the distance from the midline. Patients with craniotomy whose superior limit was <25 mm from the midline had a markedly increased risk of developing hydrocephalus (OR = 17). Craniectomy with a superior limit too close to the midline can predispose patients undergoing DC to the development of hydrocephalus. We therefore suggest performing wide DCs with the superior limit >25 mm from the midline ⁶⁾.