Cranioplasty after decompressive craniectomy (DC) in MCA malignant ischemic stroke: Preliminary results of Modena registry

Cranioplasty after DC is commonly use as the treatment for medically refractory intracranial hypertension in cerebral trauma, SAH, ICH, Tumors, where it is better studied, but also in malignant stroke. (1) Even in Stroke the aims of the cranioplasty are protection of the brain, restoration of the brain’s hydrodynamic conditions and cosmetics, determining a clinical outcome improvement comprehensive of neuropsicological function. (2) Cranioplasty can be performed by using autologous bone or alloplastic; materials and timing of cranioplasty seems to be related to the clinical outcome and it should be performed after 90 days from DC. (3) Cranioplasty complications are sepsis (5%), Hematoma (19%), Sieroma (6.2%), pneumocefalus (4%), hidrocefalus (2%) and fractures (1%) but the available studies include mainly cumulative results of the illnesses previous indicated. The aim of our work is to study timing and complications of cranioplasty in a cohort of MCA malignant stroke.