Long-Term Results of Neurological Outcome, Quality of Life, and Cosmetic Outcome After Cranioplastic Surgery: A Single Center Study of 202 Patients

The current state of cranioplasty in Europe - Results from a European cranioplasty survey

Introduction

Cranioplasty, a surgical procedure to restore skull integrity and aesthetic contour following decompressive craniectomy, poses challenges in material selection and timing, driven by the lack of guidelines and ongoing regulatory changes.

Research question

This study aimed to provide an overview of current cranioplasty practices in Europe, explicitly addressing a potential shift towards alloplastic materials and the management of patients with concomitant hydrocephalus.

Material and methods

An online survey was conducted among European neurosurgical centers from January to March 2024, collecting data on material preferences, timing of procedures, and management strategies for cranioplasty. Descriptive and statistical analyses were performed on 110 complete responses.

Results

Respondents favored alloplastic materials over autologous bone for cranioplasty, citing regulatory constraints and reduced infection risk as primary reasons. Variability was observed in the timing of procedures and the management of patients with hydrocephalus, with most centers adopting staged approaches.

Discussion and conclusion

The shift towards alloplastic materials in cranioplasty reflects regulatory pressures rather than material-specific considerations. Despite variability in practice, our findings underscore the need for standardized guidelines and further research to optimize patient outcomes. This study provides valuable insights into current practices and highlights areas for future investigation in cranioplasty.

Health-related quality of life following cranioplasty - a systematic review

Cranioplasty is a neurosurgical procedure that repairs a defect in the skull Coupled with the underlying pathology cranioplasty associated morbidity can have a large impact on patient quality of life, which is often poorly explored. The objective of this systematic review was to identify patient-reported outcomes evaluating health-related quality of life following cranioplasty. The review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021251543) and a systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA statement. PubMed, Embase, CINAHL Plus, and the Cochrane databases were searched from inception to 1 May 2022. All studies reporting HRQoL following cranioplasty were included. Reporting was assessed using the ISOQOL checklist and risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale or the Johanna-Briggs Institute Scale, as appropriate. A total of 25 studies were included of which 20 were cross-sectional and 2 longitudinal. Most studies utilized study specific questionnaires and Likert scales to assess HRQoL. The studies found a significant improvement in physical functioning, social functioning, cosmetic outcome, and overall HRQoL following cranioplasty. Further longitudinal studies utilising validated measurement tools are required to better understand the effect of cranioplasty at a patient level.

Health-related quality of life following cranioplasty: a cross-sectional cohort study - Cranio-PRO

Cranioplasty is an operation that aims to repair a defect in the skull. Indications commonly include Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), tumours, and infections. It carries a high rate of postoperative morbidity. Due to underlying pathology and the nature of the operation patients' Health-related Quality of life (QoL) can be severely affected. Patient reported outcomes (PROs) are poorly understood following cranioplasty. To investigate PROs following cranioplasty a cross-sectional cohort study of adults undergoing cranioplasty between 01/03/2010-30/08/2020 was conducted. If consent was provided, participants were sent five health reporting questionnaires: a study specific questionnaire, EuroQoL - 5D - 5L (EQ-5D-5L), RAND Short-Form 36 (SF-36), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Derriford Appearance Scale (DAS-24). 239 eligible patients were contacted and 72 (30.8%) participated. Median [Range] age was 52.5 [23 - 95] of which 59.7% (n= 43) were male. 16.9% (n = 12) were categorised with borderline and 29.0% (n = 20) with extreme depression, 15.9% (n = 11) reported borderline and 35.2% (n = 25) extreme anxiety. 69.1% (n = 47) had problems with usual activities and 71.6% (n = 49) suffered from pain/discomfort. Median (Range) EQ-5D-5L visual analogue scale score for overall health was 70.0 (5-100). 76.0% (n = 53) reported feeling conscious or having negative feelings towards their appearance. When compared to normative UK population, physical functioning, overall health, and energy/fatigue were the most affected. After cranioplasty, patients may have reduced HRQoL. Signposting and referral to well-being services could benefit patients' care. Adequately powered longitudinal studies are required to further elucidate change in PROs following cranioplasty.

Craniectomy and Cranioplasty Effects on Balance and Gait in Rehabilitation: A Retrospective Study

Objective

To analyze changes in balance and gait in patients undergoing rehabilitation postcraniectomy and postcranioplasty, including comparison of outcomes across time periods, rate of change, and among diagnoses.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Inpatient rehabilitation.

Participants

Fifty-three patients (mean age 52.3±16.9y; 62% male) with stroke, traumatic, or nontraumatic brain injury postcraniectomy or postcranioplasty.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Functional Gait Assessment (FGA), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and 10-meter walk test (10MWT) were collected at baseline, first discharge, readmission, and final discharge.

Results

Across the full rehabilitation course, all 4 outcomes improved: BBS, 17.9 points (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.7-23.2); FGA, 7.8 points (95% CI, 0.6-15.0); 6MWT, 141.0 m (95% CI, 89.0-192.0); and 10MWT, 0.381 m/s (95% CI, 0.188-0.575). All outcomes improved at postcraniectomy admission: BBS, 13.0 points (95% CI, 8.4-17.5); FGA, 4.0 points (95% CI. -1.65 to 9.65); 6MWT, 100.0 m (95% CI, 58.2-142.0); and 10MWT, 0.160 m/s (95% CI, 0.004-0.316). During leave of absence from rehabilitation, BBS decreased 6.3 points (95% CI, -11.8 to -0.8); FGA decreased 6.6 points (95% CI, -13.8 to 0.6); 6MWT decreased 19.2 m (95% CI, -73.5 to 35.2); and 10MWT increased 0.089 m/s (95% CI, -0.097 to 0.276). All outcomes improved at postcranioplasty admission: BBS, 11.3 points (95% CI, 6.6-16.0); FGA, 10.4 points (95% CI, 4.8-16.1); 6MWT, 59.4 m (95% CI, 14.1-105.0); and 10MWT, 0.132 m/s (95% CI, -0.039 to 0.303). Diagnosis was not associated with changes in outcomes.

Conclusions

Gait and balance outcomes improved during postcraniectomy and postcranioplasty rehabilitation admissions but not immediately post cranioplasty.

Neurological Outcomes Following Craniotomy for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation-Associated Intracranial Hemorrhage: Case Series and Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a potential complication associated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), which has been increasingly utilized in recent years. A paucity of data exists describing patient outcomes following invasive neurosurgical interventions in patients receiving ECMO therapy. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical and functional outcomes in patients who underwent cranial neurosurgery for the management of an ECMO-associated intracranial complication.

METHODS

This was a single-institution retrospective review of adult patients who underwent craniotomy or craniectomy after sustaining an intracranial hemorrhagic complication of ECMO therapy from 2008 to 2023. Anticoagulation status, operative indication, surgical details, postoperative course, and functional outcome were recorded. A systematic review of the prior literature was performed to contextualize our institutional results within previous reports.

RESULTS

Four adult patients were identified at our institution who underwent craniotomy or craniectomy for the neurosurgical management of an ECMO-associated ICH. One patient (25%) ultimately made a satisfactory recovery (Modified Rankin Scale score 3 at 1 year). The surviving patient had a notably higher Glasgow Coma Scale (7T vs. 3T), had not received anticoagulation at the time of surgery, and did not experience postoperative reaccumulation or expansion of their hemorrhage, distinguishing factors from the other 3 included. Review of the existing literature identified 15 adult patients who underwent craniotomy while receiving ECMO therapy, of which 4 (26.7%) had a long-term favorable neurologic outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall prognosis following neurosurgical intervention for the management of ECMO-associated intracranial complications was poor in our case series, which was corroborated by our literature review.

Long-Term Follow-Up of Custom-Made Porous Hydroxyapatite Cranioplasties: Analysis of Infections in Adult and Pediatric Patients

In neurosurgery, cranioplasty (CP) stands as a pivotal surgical intervention, particularly following head trauma or various neurosurgical interventions. This study scrutinizes the intricacies of CP, emphasizing its prevalence and associated complications, with a specific focus on custom-made porous hydroxyapatite (PHA) implants. The investigation spans 687 patients (with 80 patients of pediatric age, less than 14 years old) across 26 neurosurgical centers in five European countries. Methodologically, this study delves into patient characteristics, complications, and infection data through a comprehensive post-marketing on-site surveillance approach. Notably, infections emerged as the primary complication, affecting 41 patients (6% of implants) with a clear distinction in onset patterns between pediatric (with more infections, 10% versus 5.4% in adults and an earlier onset of complications) and adult populations. Out of these 41 cases, cranioplasty explantation was required in 30 patients, 4.4% of the total population. Furthermore, bifrontal decompression correlated with a significantly elevated infection risk as compared to unilateral decompression (12.5% versus 5.1%) which remains after the examination of possible confounding factors. These findings provide substantial insights into the complexities of CP, suggesting the necessity for tailored strategies in pediatric and adult cases and cautioning against bifrontal decompressions. Despite acknowledging limitations and calling for prospective studies with long term follow-up, this research advances our understanding of the use of PHA CP, guiding clinical decision-making and emphasizing the importance of customized approaches for diverse patient cohorts.

Development of 3D printed patient-specific skull implants based on 3d surface scans

Sometimes cranioplasty is necessary to reconstruct skull bone defects after a neurosurgical operation. If an autologous bone is unavailable, alloplastic materials are used. The standard technical approach for the fabrication of cranial implants is based on 3D imaging by computed tomography using the defect and the contralateral site. A new approach uses 3D surface scans, which accurately replicate the curvature of the removed bone flap. For this purpose, the removed bone flap is scanned intraoperatively and digitized accordingly. When using a design procedure developed for this purpose creating a patient-specific implant for each bone flap shape in short time is possible. The designed skull implants have complex free-form surfaces analogous to the curvature of the skull, which is why additive manufacturing is the ideal manufacturing technology here. In this study, we will describe the intraoperative procedure for the acquisition of scanned data and its further processing up to the creation of the implant.

Cosmetic satisfaction and patient-reported outcome measures following cranioplasty after craniectomy - A prospective cohort study

Introduction

Evaluating patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) helps optimize preoperative counseling and psychosocial care for patients who underwent cranioplasty.

Research question

This study aimed to evaluate cosmetic satisfaction, level of self-esteem, and fear of negative evaluation (FNE) of patients who underwent cranioplasty.

Material and methods

Patients who underwent cranioplasty from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020 ​at University Medical Center Utrecht and a control group consisting of our center' employees were invited to fill out the Craniofacial Surgery Outcomes Questionnaire (CSO-Q), consisting of an assessment of cosmetic satisfaction, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and the FNE scale. To test for differences in results, chi-square tests and T-tests were performed. Logistic regression was used to study the effect of cranioplasty-related variables on cosmetic satisfaction.

Results

Cosmetic satisfaction was seen in 44/80 patients (55.0%) and 52/70 controls (74.3%) (p ​= ​0.247). Thirteen patients (16.3%) and 8 controls (11.4%) had high self-esteem (p ​= ​0.362), 51 patients (63.8%) and 59 controls (84.3%) had normal self-esteem (p ​= ​0.114), and 7 patients (8.8%) and 3 controls (4.3%) had low self-esteem (p ​= ​0.337). Forty-nine patients (61.3%) and 39 controls (55.7%) had low FNE (p ​= ​0.012), 8 patients (10.0%) and 18 controls (25.7%) had average FNE (p ​= ​0.095), and 6 patients (7.5%) and 13 controls (18.6%) had high FNE (p ​= ​0.215). Cosmetic satisfaction was associated with glass fiber-reinforced composite implants (OR 8.20, p-value ​= ​0.04).

Discussion and conclusion

This study prospectively evaluated PROMs following cranioplasty, for which we found favorable results.

Can we do better at measuring patient-reported outcomes after cranioplasty? A systematic review

Measuring quality of life (QOL) after cranioplasty is increasingly evident as a necessary component of patient-centered care. For data to be useful in clinical decision-making and approval of new therapies, studies must utilize valid and reliable instruments. Our objective was to critically appraise studies evaluating QOL in adult cranioplasty patients and determine validity and relevance of the patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) used. Electronic databases of PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and PsychINFO were used to identify PROMs measuring QOL in adult patients with cranioplasty. The methodological approach, cranioplasty outcomes, and domains measured by the PROMs were extracted and summarized descriptively. A content analysis of the identified PROMs was completed to identify the concepts measured. From 2236 articles identified, 17 articles containing eight QOL PROMs met the inclusion criteria. None of the PROMs was specifically validated or developed for adults undergoing cranioplasty. The QOL domains included physical health, psychological health, social health, and general QOL. These four domains encompassed 216 total items among the PROMs. Appearance was only assessed in two PROMs. To our knowledge, there are currently no validated PROMs that comprehensively measure appearance, facial function, and adverse effects in adults undergoing cranioplasty. There is an urgent need to develop PROMs to measure QOL outcomes rigorously and comprehensively in this patient population to inform clinical care, research, and quality improvement initiatives. Findings from this systematic review will be used to derive an outcome instrument containing important concepts related to QOL in patients who undergo cranioplasty.

Complications and cosmetic outcomes of materials used in cranioplasty following decompressive craniectomy-a systematic review, pairwise meta-analysis, and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Optimal reconstruction materials for cranioplasty following decompressive craniectomy (DC) remain unclear. This systematic review, pairwise meta-analysis, and network meta-analysis compares cosmetic outcomes and complications of autologous bone grafts and alloplasts used for cranioplasty following DC.

METHOD

PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane were searched from inception until April 2021. A random-effects pairwise meta-analysis was used to compare pooled outcomes and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of autologous bone to combined alloplasts. A frequentist network meta-analysis was subsequently conducted to compare multiple individual materials.

RESULTS

Of 2033 articles screened, 30 studies were included, consisting of 29 observational studies and one randomized control trial. Overall complications were statistically significantly higher for autologous bone compared to combined alloplasts (RR = 1.56, 95%CI = 1.14-2.13), hydroxyapatite (RR = 2.60, 95%CI = 1.17-5.78), polymethylmethacrylate (RR = 1.50 95%CI = 1.08-2.08), and titanium (Ti) (RR = 1.56 95%CI = 1.03-2.37). Resorption occurred only in autologous bone (15.1%) and not in alloplasts (0.0%). When resorption was not considered, there was no difference in overall complications between autologous bone and combined alloplasts (RR = 1.00, 95%CI = 0.75-1.34), nor between any individual materials. Dehiscence was lower for autologous bone compared to combined alloplasts (RR = 0.39, 95%CI = 0.19-0.79) and Ti (RR = 0.34, 95%CI = 0.15-0.76). There was no difference between autologous bone and combined alloplasts with respect to infection (RR = 0.85, 95%CI = 0.56-1.30), migration (RR = 1.36, 95%CI = 0.63-2.93), hematoma (RR = 0.98, 95%CI = 0.53-1.79), seizures (RR = 0.83, 95%CI = 0.29-2.35), satisfactory cosmesis (RR = 0.88, 95%CI = 0.71-1.08), and reoperation (RR = 1.66, 95%CI = 0.90-3.08).

CONCLUSIONS

Bone resorption is only a consideration in autologous cranioplasty compared to bone substitutes explaining higher complications for autologous bone. Dehiscence is higher in alloplasts, particularly in Ti, compared to autologous bone.

Predictors of Clinical Outcomes in Autologous Cranioplasty

BACKGROUND

Cranioplasty is a common neurosurgical procedure and autologous grafts are preferred due to their aesthetic and biocompatibility benefits. Multiple risk factors are implicated as predictors for neurologic outcome. This study focuses on risk factors that may be associated with complications and analyzes the predictors of neurologic outcomes after autologous cranioplasty.

METHODS

This is a retrospective observational study conducted at a tertiary care center between 2015 and 2021. Adults with autologous cranioplasty (n = 132) were recruited from procedure logs and the hospital electronic health record. Clinicodemographic parameters, risk factors, and complications were recorded. Neurologic outcomes were measured using the dichotomized Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Primary outcome measure was pre- and post-cranioplasty GOS at the last follow up. Secondary outcome measures were the predicting factors that contributed to enhanced neurologic outcome post-cranioplasty.

RESULTS

Mean age was 41.4 (standard deviation ± 13.5) years with male predominance (12.2:1). Complications developed in 12.9% (n = 17), with infections in 3.8% (n = 5) and hydrocephalus in 2.3% (n = 3). In bivariate analysis, pre-cranioplasty GOS good grades 4 and 5 (P < 0.001), trauma as an indication for decompressive craniectomy (DC) (P < 0.001), and early cranioplasty ≤12 weeks (P = 0.023) were statistically significant predictors for post-cranioplasty neurologic recovery at follow-up. In a multiple logistic regression model, adjusted odds ratio for pre-cranioplasty GOS was 28.77 (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.21-114.74, P < 0.001), for trauma as indication for DC was 5.15 (95% CI 1.65-16.05, P = 0.003), and for early cranioplasty ≤12 weeks was 3.04 (95% CI 1.12-8.27 P = 0.029).

CONCLUSIONS

Autologous cranioplasty contributes to a quantifiable neurologic outcome. Pre-cranioplasty neurologic status, cranioplasty done for traumatic DC and early cranioplasty may have potential for enhanced neurologic recovery. Further clinical studies with better evidence may expound upon these findings.