Usefulness of scalp expansion for cranioplasty in a case with postinfection large calvarial defect: a case report

Surg Neurol. 2007 Mar;67(3):291-5. doi: 10.1016/j.surneu.2006.04.019. Epub 2006 Nov 3.

Abstract

Background: We frequently experience difficulty in scalp adaptation on cranioplastic surgery, particularly after wound infection, because of scalp atrophy, poor nutritional condition, and tense suture.

Case description: We report our valuable experience of scalp expansion being effective for cranioplastic surgery due to a postinfection large calvarial defect after the removal of a convexity meningioma.

Conclusions: If there is some anxiety about scalp adaptation preoperatively, it may be wise to perform a 2-stage cranioplasty, including tissue expansion with a scalp expander, instead of a hasty 1-stage cranioplasty.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aphasia / diagnosis
  • Aphasia / etiology
  • Female
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / complications
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Meningioma / complications
  • Meningioma / pathology*
  • Meningioma / surgery*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures / methods*
  • Scalp / microbiology*
  • Scalp / surgery*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Surgical Wound Infection / microbiology
  • Surgical Wound Infection / surgery*
  • Tissue Expansion / methods*