Analysis of cranioplasty procedures performed in Novosibirsk from 2016 to 2022

Background: Studies on reconstructive neurosurgical interventions are always relevant due to the persistence of cranial defects, mainly caused by traumatic brain injuries (TBI). To provide medical care to the patients with cranial defects more efficiently, it is necessary to assess a large number of surgical interventions in studies.

Objective: To analyze data on reconstructive neurosurgical interventions performed at Novosibirsk hospitals.

Methods: We performed a multicenter observational retrospective non-randomized study of the total cranioplasty surgical interventions from 2016 to 2022. The study involved five neurosurgical departments in Novosibirsk hospitals. In 450 of 673 cases the inclusion criteria were met.

Results: The majority of patients (n = 361; 80.2%) underwent surgical interventions in federal health facilities. Urban residents prevailed (n = 260) among the patients who met the inclusion criteria. Craniectomies were mainly indicated for the consequences of TBI (n = 319; 70.9%). Time to cranioplasty ranged from 0.1 to 320 months (mean: 23.9 ± 39.2; median: 11.6 months). There were non-clinically significant differences in terms of primary and reconstructive operations between the defects caused by TBI and other conditions. In 51.1% of cases, we found two features describing the size and complexity of the skull defect. In 19.3% of cases, patients were diagnosed with a skull defect (affected anatomical areas were specified).

Conclusions: Over seven years, 450 Novosibirsk residents underwent cranioplasty in five neurosurgical Novosibirsk hospitals (mean: 64.3 surgical interventions a year). Comparing the recent results with previous studies data in terms of performed craniectomies, we found that reconstructive interventions are lacking 99.7 cases per year. To reduce the time to cranioplasty, it is necessary to make a registry of patients with skull defects.

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