The impact of cranioplasty on cerebral blood perfusion in patients treated with decompressive craniectomy for severe traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: A large cranial defect following decompressive craniectomy (DC) is a common sequela in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Such a defect can cause severe disturbance of cerebral blood flow (CBF) regulation. This study investigated the impact of cranioplasty on CBF in these patients.

METHODS: Patients who underwent DC and secondary cranioplasty were prospectively studied for a severe TBI. CT perfusion was used to measure CBF before and after cranioplasty. The basal ganglia, parietal lobe and occipital lobe on the decompressed side were chosen as zones of interest for CBF evaluation.

RESULTS: Nine patients representing nine cranioplasty procedures were included in the study. Before cranioplasty, CBF on the decompressed side was lower than that on the contralateral side. During the early stage (10 days) after cranioplasty, CBF on the decompressed side was increased and this increase was significant in the parietal and occipital lobe. CBF was also increased on the contralateral side. In addition, the difference in CBF between the contralateral side and the decompressed side was reduced after cranioplasty. Further, the CT perfusion showed that the CBFs decreased again 3 months post-cranioplasty among four cases, but was still higher than those before cranioplasty.

CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that cranioplasty may increase CBF and benefit the recovery in patients with DC for TBI.