Extensive Dural Ossification After Decompressive Posttraumatic Craniectomy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Background: We present a case of almost complete bifrontal dural ossification after decompressive craniectomy for severe traumatic brain injury.

Case description: A 6-year-old boy was brought to the emergency room after a severe traumatic brain injury (Glasgow Coma Scale/Score 7). Due to rapidly increasing intracranial pressure values (>20 mm Hg) refractory to conservative therapy and in the absence of focal lesions justifying the neurological status, a bicoronal decompressive craniectomy was performed. The patient underwent reconstructive bifrontal cranioplasty with autologous bone 110 days after surgery. Preoperative computed tomography scans showed an abnormal hyperdense layer surrounding both frontal lobes. During the procedure, widespread islets of eggshell-shaped bony tissue were found covering the pericranium and the dura mater. They were laboriously removed from the underlying tissues. Two months later computed tomography scans did not show evidence of calcification at the level of the frontal lobes or signs of bone reabsorption or epidural collections.

Conclusions: We focus on the clinical implications of this phenomenon, in terms of its surgical management and how it may influence the timing of cranioplasty. Furthermore, we discuss the main pathophysiologic models described in the literature.

Keywords: Bone resorption; Calcification; Cranioplasty; Decompressive craniectomy; Heterotopic ossification; Intracranial hypertension; Traumatic brain injury.