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Cranioplasty
- Days In Hospital 7 days
- Outside Hospital Stay 20 days
- Success Rate 80%
Minimum Cost
$ 5000
Maximum Cost.
$ 7000
Most Asked Procedures
Overview of Cranioplasty in India
Cranioplasty is an operation wherein the deformity to the skull is resolved through replacement of the damaged portion of the skull bone. The skull bone is the protective layer for the brain against external forces. When the external force demolishes the skull bone, it results in traumatic brain injury for which surgery will rectify the problem either by replacing the damaged portion of the skull bone or by using synthetic material to repair the defect.
What Is A Cranioplasty?
Cranioplasty refers to a surgical operation carried out to fix a defect of the skull. The skull is the bone that surrounds and protects the brain. In a cranioplasty, a surgeon will:
- replace part of the skull;
- repair damage to the skull;
- reshape (contour) the skull.
This type of surgery is usually performed after:
- a traumatic head injury;
- a growth abnormality;
- previous cranial surgery.
A cranioplasty is an elective procedure that may be needed after some cranial craniectomies or other types of brain surgery. Your surgeon will determine if you are a candidate for cranioplasty and when it is safe for you to undergo the procedure.
What Does A Cranioplasty Treat?
A cranioplasty addresses treatment for:
- A congenital condition (a birth defect).
- Damage after a traumatic injury.
- Skull deformity (cosmetic defect).
- An area of your skull where your brain may become injured.
- A defect (or hole) in the skull thanks to a previous surgery.
Types of Cranioplasty:
There are many types of cranioplasties for various patients' specific needs and the following are a couple of types of cranioplasties:
Autograft Cranioplasty:
Description: Autograft cranioplasty involves using the patients own bone, generally from another part of the body, for example, their ribs or iliac crest.
Advantages: There is less risk of infection or rejection since it is patients own tissue. The autograft tends to integrate well with the skull as well.
Allograft Cranioplasty:
Description: Allograft cranioplasty involves the use of bone graft sources from a donor, generally from a bone bank. The donor bone is cleaned, processed, and cleaned after they have caught the bone before implantation.
Advantages: This type of cranioplasty avoids a second surgical site on the patients body. Allografts are generally readily available and can be placed into the defect space after they have been shaped and prepared.
Synthetic Cranioplasty:
Description: Synthetic materials, such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or individualized implants, are utilized to substitute the absent area of the skull.
Advantages: These materials do not invoke an immune response, are inert, and can be accurately formed to the defect. Moreover, a secondary surgical site is avoided.
Titanium Mesh Cranioplasty:
Description: Titanium mesh is a strong and lightweight material. It can be reshaped to fit the defect in the skull. The mesh is fastened to the remaining skull using screws.
Advantages: Titanium mesh can result in a durable and stable reconstruction and offers flexibility and can be contoured to match the anatomy of the patient.
Custom 3D-Printed Implants:
Description: With technological advancements, custom 3D-printed implants can now be designed using the patient's skull anatomy. These custom implants are generally fabricated from polyetheretherketone (PEEK) or titanium.
Advantages: Specific customisation, decreased surgery time, and ability to treat complicated and irregular defects.
Composite Cranioplasty:
Description: The act of combining autograft or allograft with synthetic materials to repair the skull.
Advantages: The combination of materials has the potential to harness the benefits of both autografts/allografts and synthetic materials, thus providing optimal reconstruction, particular to the patient.
The type of cranioplasty selected is dependant upon patient factors such as their overall health, the size and location of the skull defect, the availability of donor material, and the surgeon's preference and experience.
Procedure:
The typical process of cranioplasty is outlined below.
Anesthesia: The patient is administered anesthesia to numb the area, thereby reducing pain, sensation, and irritation during surgery. With cranioplasty, general anesthesia is provided to block any feelings of discomfort for the entire body.
Incision: The surgeon makes an incision based on the skull's deformity. Incisions are made with caution to prevent cosmetic concerns.
Preparation of the bone or implant: With autologous and allograft cranioplasty, the bone is contoured so that it fits the deformity of the skull. With an alloplastic cranioplasty, the synthetic material's contour is designed for each patient.
Placement of the implant: After preparing the implant, the bone component or material is placed and positioned into the skull using special instruments to stabilize the implants. Closure: The surgeon closes the incisions and replaces the scalp over the implant.
Postoperative care: Medications are administered to prevent infection, control bleeding, and manage pain for the patient following cranioplasty.
Best Doctors in India
Dr Harnarayan Singh
Director and Head of the Department : Neurosurgery & Spine Surgery
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Cost of Cranioplasty in India
Indian patients may be anywhere between INR 3,000 -4,000,000 on average cost of their cranioplasty surgery whereas international patients may pay USD 5,000-7,000 on the same. This price will cover preoperative diagnostics, costs of surgery, postoperative treatment, medicine cost, and hospitalization of the patient. The total expense of the operation may vary, based on a number of factors such as the nature of the hospital selected, severity of the defect, any post surgical complications and the expense of any blood products needed.
Top Hospitals in India
Indications of Cranioplasty:
Symptoms of Cranioplasty
- Pain or irritation at the location of the incision
- Swelling or bruising near the head
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- Alterations in vision or hearing
- Speaking or understanding speech problems
- Fever or signs of infection
- Worsening neurological symptoms (weakness or numbness)
Causes of Cranioplasty
Traumatic head injury: A significant head injury resulting from accidents, falls, or violence.
Skull defects from birth: Skulls that do not meet normal structural characteristics from birth.
Previous cranial surgeries: Cranioplasty may be necessary in individuals who have undergone previous skull surgeries to replace and/or repair the skull's appearance.
Removal of brain tumors: Cranioplasty is needed where the bone is removed or a defect is present after the removal of a brain tumor.
Decompressive craniectomy: Cranioplasty will replace a bone and protect the brain from brain injuries or swelling that damage the brain.
Skull fractures: Cranioplasty restores skull strength when fractures are present in the skull due to trauma or accidents.
Infections in the skull: Cranioplasty resects (removes) dead or infected tissue or any defect in the skull bones.
Abnormal growth affecting the skull: Cranioplasty will reconstruct normal skull growth while treating craniosynostosis (the permanent fusion of skull bones).
Severe cranial bone erosion: Cranioplasty will repair or replace damaged bone from cranial erosion of the skull bone.
Cosmetic reconstruction of the skull: Cranioplasty corrects skull deformities or addresses skull asymmetries for cosmetic indications.
Risk Factors:
Risks Associated with Cranioplasty
- Surgical site infection
- Bleeding or the development of hematoma
- Allergic reaction to surgical and/or anesthetic materials
- Thrombus
- Pneumonia
- Bone graft failure
- Displacement of implant
- Seroma (fluid buildup)
- Delayed wound healing
- Skin necrosis
- Nerve damage resulting in sensory or motor loss
- Cerebrospinal fluid leak
- Infection related to anesthesia
- Chronic pain
- Risk of implant rejection
- Stroke or seizure