Korean J Neurotrauma.  2013 Oct;9(2):57-63. 10.13004/kjnt.2013.9.2.57.

The Current Analysis of the Risk Factors for Bone Graft Infection after Cranioplasty

• Yang SM
• Park HK
• Cho SJ
• Chang JC
• Park SQ
• Kim RS

• KMID: 2156101
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.13004/kjnt.2013.9.2.57

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to investigate the factors that may be related to bone graft infection and to contribute to lower the infection rate. According to current studies, the rate of bone graft infection after cranioplasty was reported up to 15.9% and this is significantly high. There are many analyses of the factors influencing bone graft infection, but this issue may need to be reconsidered in that the current medical environment is ever-changing.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the demographic, clinical data of 130 patients who underwent cranioplasty following decompressive craniectomy from January 2004 to December 2011. We analyzed several factors influencing bone graft infection and divided them into three categories of clinical, operation-related and hematological factors including white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and albumin. Statistical significance was done by chi-square test, Fisher's test and Mann-Whitney U test.
RESULTS
The infection occurred in 12 patients in 130 cranioplasties (9.2%). There was no difference in infection rate between each group of early and later surgery, graft material, cause of craniectomy. Among many factors, low Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS< or =8) and combined ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt were significantly correlated with bone graft infection (p=0.025, p=0.025, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference in hematological analysis between groups.
CONCLUSION
Low GCS and combined VP shunt with cranioplasty may increase the risk of bone graft infection.

Keyword

Cranioplasty; Craniectomy; Infection; Risk factor

MeSH Terms

Blood Sedimentation
C-Reactive Protein
Decompressive Craniectomy
Glasgow Coma Scale
Humans
Leukocyte Count
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors*
Transplants*
C-Reactive Protein

Reference

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