J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2012 Feb;51(2):117-119. 10.3340/jkns.2012.51.2.117.

Reperfusion Injury after Autologous Cranioplasty in a Patient with Sinking Skin Flap Syndrome

• Kwon SM
• Cheong JH
• Kim JM
• Kim CH

• KMID: 1441423
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2012.51.2.117

Abstract

The sinking skin flap syndrome is a rare complication after a large craniectomy. It consists of a sunken skin above the bone defect with neurological symptoms such as severe headache, mental changes, focal deficits, or seizures. In patient with sinking skin flap syndrome, cerebral blood flow and cerebral metabolism are decreased by sinking skin flap syndrome, and it may cause the deterioration of autoregulation of brain. We report a case of a patient with sinking skin flap syndrome who suffered from reperfusion injury after cranioplasty with review of pertinent literature.

Keyword

Sinking skin flap syndrome; Cranioplasty; Reperfusion injury

MeSH Terms

Brain
Headache
Homeostasis
Humans
Reperfusion
Reperfusion Injury
Seizures
Skin

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Brain computed tomography scan on admission which shows large subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, and intraventricular hemorrhage.

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  Fig. 2 CT scan of brain 2 months after craniectomy with severe skin depression at the site of craniectomy with shifting of the midline structures.

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  Fig. 3 Brain CT scan showing the intracerebral hemorrhage and intraventricular hemorrhage after cranioplasty.

Reference

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