The authors describe a technique consisting of subfascial temporalis dissection and performing a pedicled bone flap in pterional craniotomy. This technique provides reliable preservation of the frontalis nerve, does not necessitate the reconstruction of the temporalis muscle at the end of the surgery, and does not compromise the operative exposure.
Craniotomy

Awake craniotomy is a brain surgery performed on awake patients and is indicated for certain intracranial pathologies. These include procedures that require an awake patient for electrocorticographic mapping or precise electrophysiological recordings, resection of lesions located close to or in the motor and speech of the brain, or minor intracranial procedures that aim to avoid general anaesthesia for faster recovery and earlier discharge. This type of brain surgery is quite new and has only recently begun to be performed in a few neurosurgical centres in Malaysia. The success of the surgery requires exceptional teamwork from the neurosurgeon, neuroanaesthesiologist, and neurologist. The aim of this article is to briefly describe the history of awake craniotomy procedures at our institution.
Craniotomy

Pediatric intracranial aneurysms are rare and differ from aneurysms in adults in terms of location, etiology, natural history and management. This is a case report of giant aneurysm in a 10-year old patient presenting with symptoms of headache and vomiting. Cerebral catheter angiogram revealed a large aneurysm in the left middle cerebral artery, M1 segment. The patient underwent left pterional craniotomy, clip reconstruction of the patent artery, and aneurysmectomy. Post operatively the patient had an unremarkable course and was discharged improved after 1 week. Cerebral catheter angiogram was performed after 2 months and revealed no residual aneurysm.
Craniotomy

OBJECTIVE: Many vascular neurosurgeons tend to remove bone flap in patients with large aneurysmal intracerebral hematomas (ICH). However, relatively little work has been done regarding the effectiveness of prophylactic decompressive craniectomy in a patient with a large aneurysmal ICH. METHODS: Large ICH was defined as hematoma when its volume exceeded 25 mL, ipsilateral to aneurysms. The patients were divided into two groups; aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) associated with large ICH, January, 1994 - December, 1999 (Group A, 41 patients), aneurysmal SAH associated with large ICH, January, 2000 - May, 2005 (Group B, 27 patients). Demographic and clinical variables including age, sex, hypertension, vasospasm, rebleeding, Hunt-Hess grade, aneurysm location, aneurysm size, and outcome were compared between two groups, and also compared between craniotomy and craniectomy patients in Group A. RESULTS: In Group A, 21 of 41 patients underwent prophylactic decompressive craniectomy. In Group B, only two patients underwent craniectomy. Surgical outcome in Group A (good 23, poor 18) was statistically not different from Group B (good 15, poor 12). Surgical outcomes between craniectomy (good 12, poor 9) and craniotomy cases (good 11, poor 9) in Group A were also comparable. CONCLUSION: We recommend that a craniotomy can be carried out safely without prophylactic craniectomy in patients with a large aneurysmal ICH if intracranial pressure is controllable with hematoma evacuation.
Aneurysm ; Craniotomy ; Decompressive Craniectomy ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intracranial Pressure ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: Management guidelines for single intracranial hematomas have been established, but the optimal management of multiple hematomas has little known. We present bilateral traumatic supratentorial hematomas that each has enough volume to be evacuated and discuss how to operate effectively it in a single anesthesia. METHODS: In total, 203 patients underwent evacuation and/or decompressive craniectomies for acute intracranial hematomas over 5 years. Among them, only eight cases (3.9%) underwent operations for bilateral intracranial hematomas in a single session. Injury mechanism, initial Glasgow Coma Scale score, types of intracranial lesions, surgical methods, and Glasgow outcome scale were evaluated. RESULTS: The most common injury mechanism was a fall (four cases). The types of intracranial lesions were epidural hematoma (EDH)/intracerebral hematoma (ICH) in five, EDH/EDH in one, EDH/subdural hematoma (SDH) in one, and ICH/SDH in one. All cases except one had an EDH. The EDH was addressed first in all cases. Then, the evacuation of the ICH was performed through a small craniotomy or burr hole. All patients except one survived. CONCLUSION: Bilateral intracranial hematomas that should be removed in a single-session operation are rare. Epidural hematomas almost always occur in these cases and should be removed first to prevent the hematoma from growing during the surgery. Then, the other hematoma, contralateral to the EDH, can be evacuated with a small craniotomy.
Anesthesia ; Craniotomy ; Decompressive Craniectomy ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Glasgow Outcome Scale ; Hematoma* ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhages

OBJECTIVE: Earlier reports have revealed that the incidence of posttraumatic hydrocephalus (PTH) is higher among patients who underwent decompressive craniectomy (DC). The aim of this study was to determine the influencing factors for the development of PTH after DC. METHODS: A total of 693 head trauma patients admitted in our hospital between March 2004 and May 2007 were reviewed. Among thee, we analyzed 55 patients with severe traumatic brain injury who underwent DC. We excluded patients who had confounding variables. The 33 patients were finally enrolled in the study and data were collected retrospectively for these patients. The patients were divided into two groups: nonhydrocephalus group (Group I) and hydrocephalus group (Group II). Related factors assessed were individual Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), age, sex, radiological findings, type of operation, re-operation and outcome. RESULTS: Of the 693 patients with head trauma, 28 (4.0%) developed PTH. Fifty-five patients underwent DC and 13 (23.6%) developed PTH. Eleven of the 33 study patients (30.3%) who had no confounding factors were diagnosed with PTH. Significant differences in the type of craniectomy and re-operation were found between Group I and II. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the size of DC and repeated operation may promote posttraumatic hydrocephalus in severe head trauma patients who underwent DC.
Brain Injuries ; Coma ; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Craniotomy ; Decompressive Craniectomy ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Incidence ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: Craniotomy (CO) and decompressive craniectomy (DC) are two main surgical options for acute subdural hematomas (ASDH). However, optimal selection of surgical modality is unclear and decision may vary with surgeon's experience. To clarify this point, we analyzed preoperative findings and surgical outcome of patients with ASDH treated with CO or DC. METHODS: From January 2010 to December 2014, data for 46 patients with ASDH who underwent CO or DC were retrospectively reviewed. The demographic, clinical, imaging and clinical outcomes were analyzed and statistically compared. RESULTS: Twenty (43%) patients underwent CO and 26 (57%) patients received DC. In DC group, preoperative Glascow Coma Scale was lower (p=0.034), and more patient had non-reactive pupil (p=0.004). Computed tomography findings of DC group showed more frequent subarachnoid hemorrhage (p=0.003). Six month modified Rankin Scale showed favorable outcome in 60% of CO group and 23% of DC group (p=0.004). DC was done in patient with more unfavorable preoperative features (p=0.017). Patients with few unfavorable preoperative features (<6) had good outcome with CO (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In selective cases of few unfavorable clinical findings, CO may also be an effective surgical option for ASDH. Although DC remains to be standard of surgical modality for patients with poor clinical status, CO can be an alternative considering the possible complications of DC.
Coma ; Craniotomy* ; Decompressive Craniectomy* ; Hematoma, Subdural, Acute* ; Humans ; Pupil ; Retrospective Studies ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: Spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage can be considered as one of the most common forms of cerebravascular disease. Effective reduction of intracranial volume buffering capacity in elevated intracranial pressure is most important factor related to a poor prognosis in cases with huge hematoma and compromised mental status. The role of surgery in the management of such cases are still controversial. METHODS: Thirty patients with altered mental status less than stuporous and spontaneous supratentorial hematoma were underwent craniotomy or decompressive craniectomy and duroplasty. The hematoma volume were ranging from 31 to 120ml. In 14 patients, in whom a progression in secondary brain swelling was expected to occur after hematoma evacuation, a decompressive craniectomy with dural enlargement was performed. The overall clinical result was expressed as 30 day mortality, Glasgow outcome scale(GOS) and modified Rankin scale 1 year after surgery. The favorable outcome(GOS> or =4) were analyzed with variables [age, initial Glasgow coma scale(GCS), hematoma volume, location of hematoma, extent of midline shift, intraventricular hemorrhage, and time interval from ictus to surgery]. RESULTS: The overall clinical results showed 10% of 0-day mortality, 56.6% of favorable outcome and 53.3% of independency(< or =2 of modified Rankin scale). A significant statistical correlation was found between outcome and initial GCS and location of hematoma(p<0.05). The decompressive craniectomy and duroplasty proved some useful in increasing postoperative GCS of compromised patients. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of patients with spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage with altered mentality less than stuporous can have a positive role, in selected cases.
Brain Edema ; Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Coma ; Craniotomy ; Decompressive Craniectomy ; Glasgow Outcome Scale ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intracranial Hypertension ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Stupor*

OBJECTIVE: Various surgical techniques were developed for control of intracranial pressure such as extraventricular drainage, temporal lobectomy or decompressive craniectomy. We now describe our clinical experience by using the modified decompressive craniotomy. METHODS: Modified decompressive craniotomy was performed in 8 patients with severe cerebral edema from July 2000 to April 2001. The indication of this operation was severe intracranial hypertension and edema in operative field. We analyzed the result(Glasgow coma scale, GCS score, Glasgow outcome scale, GOS score) with the variables(age, sex, mid line shift on brain computed tomography scan) RESULTS: The overall rate of good recovery(GOS score 4 or 5) was 75%(6 of 8 patients), poor recovery(GOS score 2 or 3) was 12.5%(1 of 8 patients), and mortality rate was 12.5%(1 of 8 patients). All of survived patients had improved GCS score(mean: 10.02) compared to preoperative GCS score(mean: 7.82). CONCLUSION: The authors would like to recommend modified decompressive craniotomy for the patient of traumatic brain swelling in appropriate indication. This new operative technique has advantages such as decompressive effect and no need of delayed cranioplasty.
Brain ; Brain Edema ; Coma ; Craniotomy* ; Decompressive Craniectomy ; Drainage ; Edema ; Glasgow Outcome Scale ; Humans ; Intracranial Hypertension ; Intracranial Pressure* ; Mortality

OBJECTIVE: The aims of current study are to compare complications following cranioplasty (CP) using either sterilized autologous bone or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and to identify the risk factors for two of the most common complications: bone flap resorption (BFR) and surgical site infection (SSI). METHODS: Between January 2004 and December 2013, 127 patients underwent CP and were followed at least 12 months. Variables, including sex, age, initial diagnosis, time interval between decompressive craniectomy (DC) and CP, operation time, size of bone flap, and presence of ventriculo-peritoneal shunt, were analyzed to identify the risk factors for BFR and SSI. RESULTS: A total of 97 (76.4%) patients underwent CP using PMMA (Group I) and 30 (23.6%) underwent CP using autologous bone (Group II). SSI occurred in 8 (8.2%) patients in Group I, and in 2 (6.7%) in Group II; there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p=1.00). No statistically significant risk factors for SSI were found in either group. In Group I, there was no reported case of BFR. In Group II patients, BFR developed in 18 (60.0%) patients at the time of CP (Type 1 BFR), and at 12-month follow up (Type 2 BFR) in 4 (13.3%) patients. No statistically significant risk factors for BFR were found in Group II. CONCLUSION: CP using sterilized autologous bone result in a significant rate of BFR. PMMA, however, is a safe alloplastic material for CP, as it has low complication rate.
Bone Resorption ; Craniotomy ; Decompressive Craniectomy ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Polymethyl Methacrylate* ; Risk Factors ; Surgical Wound Infection ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt