J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2012 Nov;52(5):498-500. 10.3340/jkns.2012.52.5.498.

Infection of Cranioplasty Seen Twenty Years Later

• Gurbuz MS
• Celik O
• Berkman MZ

• KMID: 2018261
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2012.52.5.498

Abstract

Cranioplasty is performed using autograft and allograft materials on patients to whom craniectomy was applied previously due to the facts that, this region is open to trauma and the scalp makes irritation and pressure onto the brain paranchyma causing brain atrophy and convulsions. Dramatical improvement of neurological deficits, control of convulsions and partial prevention of cerebral atrophy are achieved after these operations. One of the most important complications of cranioplasty is late infection. Here, we report a 43-year-old male patient admitted with the history of purulant discharge from the right temporal incission site for one year to whom cranioplasty had been performed with allograft material 20 days after craniectomy which had been performed in 1989. Allograft cranioplasty material was removed and cranioplasty was performed using new allograft material with the diagnosis of late cranioplasty infection.

Keyword

Cranioplasty; Cranioplasty infection; Late cranioplasty infection

MeSH Terms

Atrophy
Brain
Humans
Male
Scalp
Seizures
Transplantation, Homologous

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 A : Cranial computed tomography scan shows allograft cranioplasty material and calcified tissue together seen as hyperdense area. B : Cranial magnetic resonance imaging scan shows allograft cranioplasty material together with calcified and fibrotic tissue thereunder.

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  Fig. 2 A : On the surface of the cranioplasty material, white-yellow coloured layer is seen. B : After removal of cranioplasty material; white-yellow coloured calcified and fibrotic tissue is seen in epidural area. C : After removal of surrounding tissues, cranioplasty material is seen with no physical change.

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