{"id":"7b17ae69-c91d-4616-a6e4-e7c19470e866","slug":"analysis-of-the-timing-and-the-usage-of-drains-following-cranioplasty-on-outcomes-and-the-incidence-of-bone-resorption","title":"Analysis of the timing and the usage of drains following cranioplasty on outcomes and the incidence of bone resorption","authors":["Ryan D. Morgan","Abdurrahman F. Kharbat","Reagan A. Collins","John Garza","Muhittin Belirgen","Laszlo Nagy"],"abstract":"Background: Pediatric cranioplasty is associated with a high rate of complications, including bone resorption (BR) in 20–50% of cases. We aimed to evaluate factors contributing to BR, including the effect of the timing of cranioplasty and the use of post-surgical drains. Methods: This is a dual institution retrospective review of all patients under 18 years old who underwent a cranioplasty following a decompressive craniectomy (DC) for the treatment of traumatic brain injury between 2011 and 2021. Early cranioplasty was defined as within 30 days after DC and late cranioplasty as >30 days. Patients were grouped by BR and separately by timing to cranioplasty. Groups were compared based on the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) and postoperative drain usage. Results: A total of 30 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 7.39 (standard deviation = 6.52) and 60% were male. The median time to cranioplasty was 13 days (interquartile range = 10–17). BR was present in 16.7% of cases. A subgaleal drain was utilized in 93.3% and an external ventricular drain (EVD) in 63.3% of patients following cranioplasty. Drain usage was not associated with BR and timing to cranioplasty was not associated with discharge or 6-month GOS. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that early cranioplasty following DC may have similar outcomes to late cranioplasty. Post-surgical EVDs and subgaleal drains did not increase the incidence of BR, suggesting their importance in the postoperative management of these patients.","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/7b17ae69-c91d-4616-a6e4-e7c19470e866/featured/hero-1781560022356.png","publishDate":"2023-09-15T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.25259/SNI_471_2023","categories":["Pediatric Neurosurgery","Original Article"],"fullTextUrl":"https://surgicalneurologyint.com/api/articles/7b17ae69-c91d-4616-a6e4-e7c19470e866/pdf"}