[Choice of transplant in cranial defects. Analysis of 73 cases]

In many of the increasing number of primary or secondary calotte defects resulting from traumatic cranial injuries, plastic reconstruction of the cranium is required. Between 1965 and 1975 in the Surgical Department of Lucerne's Canton Hospital 73 posttraumatic defects of the cranium were repaired. In 69 cases autoplastic transplants and in 4 cases alloplastic transplants were used. The calotte plate (Elliot and Scott), pieces of pelvic bone (Converse), rib (Longacre and De Stefano), as well as costal cartilage (Peer) provided autoplastic material. Alloplasty for the cranium was carried out only in selected cases where special indications were present. Our results in the selection of autologous transplants for the reconstruction of secondary cranial defects is discussed and the surgical procedure is presented.