Superimposing Pre-Cranioplasty on Pre-Craniectomy Images to Gauge Feasibility of Early Cranioplasty: A Proof of Concept

Cranioplasty to reconstruct a skull defect after a decompressive craniectomy (DC) is a common neurosurgical procedure. However, cranioplasty is associated with relatively high complication rates, with optimal timing from craniectomy to cranioplasty remaining a controversial matter. Recent studies demonstrated early cranioplasty with appropriate risk mitigation to be a viable option with many clinical advantages, propelling the advocacy for cranioplasty as soon as brain swelling resolves. We report on a 33-year-old male with traumatic brain injury who received an early cranioplasty, 18 days post-DC. The extent of adequate brain swelling resolution was determined by superimposing selected pre-cranioplasty computed tomography (CT) images onto corresponding pre-craniectomy CT images. By ensuring all brain matter lies within the outer table of the skull in superimposed brain images, the extent of brain swelling resolution could be determined reliably and the feasibility of cranioplasty can be assessed objectively.