Cranioplasty is not required in the reconstruction of small combined scalp and calvarial defects

Luís M Ribeiro; Nayan Bhindi; Carly Fox; Anand Ramakrishnan

doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2024.03.009

Cranioplasty is not required in the reconstruction of small combined scalp and calvarial defects

J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2024 Mar 26:93:18-23. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2024.03.009. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Luís M Ribeiro¹, Nayan Bhindi², Carly Fox¹, Anand Ramakrishnan³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3050, Australia.
² Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3050, Australia. Electronic address: nbhindi5@gmail.com.
³ Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3050, Australia; Department of Surgery, Melbourne Medical School, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3050, Australia.

PMID: 38608533
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2024.03.009

Abstract

Background: Treatment of scalp malignancies may include the need for craniectomy. The decision to perform cranioplasty is not straightforward and is frequently subjective. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical outcomes after reconstruction of complex scalp and calvarial defects by comparing patients with and without cranioplasty.

Methods: Retrospective review of the clinical records of a consecutive series of patients who underwent scalp soft tissue reconstruction after craniectomy for malignancy or osteoradionecrosis between 2014 and 2022 at Royal Melbourne Hospital was conducted. Demographics, previous treatments, surgical details, and post-operative complications were assessed. Traumatic injuries and decompressive craniectomies were excluded. Minimum follow-up of 6 months.

Results: Thirty-seven patients were included in the study. Indications for surgery included skin malignancies, osteoradionecrosis, or both. There was one reconstructive failure (in the non-cranioplasty group). Infection and metalware exposure were common complications in patients who underwent cranioplasty (38.5%). No patient developed neurological symptoms subsequent to craniectomy. One patient needed revision surgery due to esthetic reasons (cranioplasty group). Transposition flaps were associated with more complications and revision procedures.

Conclusion: Combined scalp and calvarial defects pose a difficult reconstructive challenge. Stable soft tissue coverage is more reliably achieved with free flap reconstruction. Cranioplasty is not always mandatory and should be reserved for cases with a very large bony defect or when the defect is located in a cosmetically sensitive area.

Keywords: Calvarial defects; Cranioplasty; Soft tissue reconstruction.