Step-Ladder Expansive Cranioplasty after Decompressive Craniotomy and Expansive Duraplasty: Discussing Possibilities on a Mathematical Model

Abstract Background Role of decompressive craniectomy in reducing intracranial pressure is well established. However, it comes with a cost of requiring a second surgery in the form of cranioplasty without which unacceptable hemodynamic consequences occur. It is generally felt that a cre...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: S. K. Sengupta
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc. 2015-03-01
Series:Indian Journal of Neurosurgery
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0035-1549061
_version_ 1811339725417480192
author S. K. Sengupta
author_facet S. K. Sengupta
author_sort S. K. Sengupta
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Role of decompressive craniectomy in reducing intracranial pressure is well established. However, it comes with a cost of requiring a second surgery in the form of cranioplasty without which unacceptable hemodynamic consequences occur. It is generally felt that a credible alternative is required. Objective The aim of the study is to devise a mathematical model, which closely represents the cranium and intracranial contents, on which various alternatives can be evaluated with reproducible results, and to work out the effects of a novel technique of expansive cranioplasty on that model. Methods A mathematical model was designed based on the presumption that dura forms a watertight bag-containing brain, floating in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). A model for an expansive cranioplasty was designed, and its ability to provide the space required to allow volume expansion and to achieve adequate reduction in intracranial pressure (ICP) was evaluated on this model. Results The mathematical model could closely reproduce the surface area–volume relationships in the published literature. Based on the calculations on the model, it was found that a projection of dural outpouching of 0.83 cm beyond the craniectomy margin on either side of a bilateral 12 × 15 cm elliptical craniectomy defect is required to achieve and accommodate a volume expansion of 157 cm3, which was recorded to be the maximum volume expansion in the reviewed literature. A two-step step-ladder cranioplasty can be constructed to achieve an increase in cranial width by 1.1 to 1.3 cm on each side. Conclusion Calculations based on the present model indicate that a two-step expansive cranioplasty can accommodate adequate volume expansion while alleviating the ill effects of a craniectomy and necessity of a second surgery. However, these are discussions on mathematical model, based on multitude of assumptions and approximations, and hence these discussions require clinical trials to validate the findings.
first_indexed 2024-04-13T18:30:48Z
format Article
id doaj.art-c513c08d4f484a45a9d509c39b798fd2
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2277-954X
2277-9167
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-13T18:30:48Z
publishDate 2015-03-01
publisher Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
record_format Article
series Indian Journal of Neurosurgery
spelling doaj.art-c513c08d4f484a45a9d509c39b798fd22022-12-22T02:35:05ZengThieme Medical Publishers, Inc.Indian Journal of Neurosurgery2277-954X2277-91672015-03-01040101502110.1055/s-0035-1549061Step-Ladder Expansive Cranioplasty after Decompressive Craniotomy and Expansive Duraplasty: Discussing Possibilities on a Mathematical ModelS. K. Sengupta0Department of Neurosurgery (Surgical Ward III), Base Hospital Delhi Cantonment, New Delhi, IndiaAbstract Background Role of decompressive craniectomy in reducing intracranial pressure is well established. However, it comes with a cost of requiring a second surgery in the form of cranioplasty without which unacceptable hemodynamic consequences occur. It is generally felt that a credible alternative is required. Objective The aim of the study is to devise a mathematical model, which closely represents the cranium and intracranial contents, on which various alternatives can be evaluated with reproducible results, and to work out the effects of a novel technique of expansive cranioplasty on that model. Methods A mathematical model was designed based on the presumption that dura forms a watertight bag-containing brain, floating in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). A model for an expansive cranioplasty was designed, and its ability to provide the space required to allow volume expansion and to achieve adequate reduction in intracranial pressure (ICP) was evaluated on this model. Results The mathematical model could closely reproduce the surface area–volume relationships in the published literature. Based on the calculations on the model, it was found that a projection of dural outpouching of 0.83 cm beyond the craniectomy margin on either side of a bilateral 12 × 15 cm elliptical craniectomy defect is required to achieve and accommodate a volume expansion of 157 cm3, which was recorded to be the maximum volume expansion in the reviewed literature. A two-step step-ladder cranioplasty can be constructed to achieve an increase in cranial width by 1.1 to 1.3 cm on each side. Conclusion Calculations based on the present model indicate that a two-step expansive cranioplasty can accommodate adequate volume expansion while alleviating the ill effects of a craniectomy and necessity of a second surgery. However, these are discussions on mathematical model, based on multitude of assumptions and approximations, and hence these discussions require clinical trials to validate the findings.http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0035-1549061decompressive craniotomystep-ladder expansive cranioplastymathematical model
spellingShingle S. K. Sengupta
Step-Ladder Expansive Cranioplasty after Decompressive Craniotomy and Expansive Duraplasty: Discussing Possibilities on a Mathematical Model
Indian Journal of Neurosurgery
decompressive craniotomy
step-ladder expansive cranioplasty
mathematical model
title Step-Ladder Expansive Cranioplasty after Decompressive Craniotomy and Expansive Duraplasty: Discussing Possibilities on a Mathematical Model
title_full Step-Ladder Expansive Cranioplasty after Decompressive Craniotomy and Expansive Duraplasty: Discussing Possibilities on a Mathematical Model
title_fullStr Step-Ladder Expansive Cranioplasty after Decompressive Craniotomy and Expansive Duraplasty: Discussing Possibilities on a Mathematical Model
title_full_unstemmed Step-Ladder Expansive Cranioplasty after Decompressive Craniotomy and Expansive Duraplasty: Discussing Possibilities on a Mathematical Model
title_short Step-Ladder Expansive Cranioplasty after Decompressive Craniotomy and Expansive Duraplasty: Discussing Possibilities on a Mathematical Model
title_sort step ladder expansive cranioplasty after decompressive craniotomy and expansive duraplasty discussing possibilities on a mathematical model
topic decompressive craniotomy
step-ladder expansive cranioplasty
mathematical model
url http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0035-1549061
work_keys_str_mv AT sksengupta stepladderexpansivecranioplastyafterdecompressivecraniotomyandexpansiveduraplastydiscussingpossibilitiesonamathematicalmodel