Product Description

Defects of the cranium result from various causes, including traumatic loss, neurosurgical intervention, skull tumors, and infection. Cranial vault reconstruction aims to restore both the structural integrity and surface morphology of the skull. To ensure a successful outcome, the choice of appropriate cranioplasty reconstruction will vary primarily based on the cause, location, and size of the defect. Other relevant factors that must be considered include adequacy of soft-tissue coverage, presence of infection, and previous or planned radiation therapy. This article presents an algorithm for the reconstruction of various cranial defects using both autologous and alloplastic techniques, with a comparison of their advantages and disadvantages.

Learning Objectives

Michal Brichacek, M.D.;  Oleh Antonyshyn, M.D., M.S.M.;  Glenn Edwards, B.E.S., B.A., M.A.;  James G. Mainprize, Ph.D.;  Leo da Costa, M.D.

Plastic and Reconstruction Surgery®Editors: Editor-in-Chief: Rod J. Rohrich, MD

Co-Editor: James M. Stuzin, MD

Section Editors: Donald H. Lalonde, MD; John YS Kim, MD

Accreditation Information

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM: 1.0
Patient Safety Credit: 0.5
Media:Journal Article, video
Release Date: 07/01/2021
Expiration Date: 07/01/2024
Estimated time to complete this course: 1 hour

*Course access ends on course expiration date

Directly provided by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons® (ASPS®)

Accreditation Statement

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Product Code: 31435