Cranial autologous bone flap resorption after a cranioplasty: A case report

Craniectomies and cranioplasty are common neurosurgical procedures performed after brain trauma, ischemia, tumor resection, or infection. Post-cranioplasty autologous bone flap resorption may occur in patients after delayed cranial reconstruction. The occurrence is usually low when bone flaps are stored in subcutaneous abdominal tissue. We report a unique case of post-cranioplasty cranial bone flap.

We report a total autologous bone flap resorption in a 28-year-old man with a history of alcohol abuse. He was found unconscious in his bedroom with a head trauma of unknown mechanism. After an emergency room assessment, he was diagnosed with an acute subdural hematoma and underwent to emergency surgical drainage and a craniectomy. Three months later, a cranioplasty was performed and he exhibited exceptional outcomes. During a follow-up assessment, 7 months post-cranioplasty, total bone flap resorption was observed on computerized tomography image.

This case described an abnormal accelerated resorption of an autologous bone flap cranioplasty inserted after 3 months. Thus, to avoid bone flap resorption, an as early as possibly strategy may prevent this. Still, the exact mechanisms underlying bone resorption are poorly understood.