Can early cranioplasty reduce the incidence of hydrocephalus after decompressive craniectomy? A meta-analysis

Davide Nasi; Mauro Dobran

doi:10.25259/SNI_120_2020

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2020

:11;

doi:

10.25259/SNI_120_2020

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Can early cranioplasty reduce the incidence of hydrocephalus after decompressive craniectomy? A meta-analysis

Davide Nasi, Mauro Dobran

Department of Neurosurgery, Marche Polytechnic University Faculty of Medicine, Ancona, Marche, Italy.

*Corresponding author: Davide Nasi, Department of Neurosurgery, Marche Polytechnic University Faculty of Medicine, Ancona 60020, Marche, Italy. davidenasi83@gmail.com

Received: 2020-03-23, Accepted: 2020-04-08, Published: 2020-05-02

Licence

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike 4.0 License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as the author is credited and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.

How to cite this article: Nasi D, Dobran M. Can early cranioplasty reduce the incidence of hydrocephalus after decompressive craniectomy? A meta- analysis. Surg Neurol Int 2020;11:94.

Abstract

Background:

Do alterations of cerebrospinal fluid dynamics secondary to decompressive craniectomy (DC) lead to hydrocephalus, and can this effect be mitigated by early cranioplasty (CP)? In this meta-analysis, we evaluated whether the timing of CP decreased the incidence of postoperative hydrocephalus.

Methods:

We performed a systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and the Cochrane databases using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for English language articles (1990–2020). We included case series, case–control, and cohort studies, and clinical trials assessing the incidence of hydrocephalus in adult patients undergoing early CP (within 3 months) versus late CP (after 3 months) after DC.

Results:

Eleven studies matched the inclusion criteria. The rate of postoperative hydrocephalus was not significantly different between the early (=96/1063; 9.03%) and late CP (=65/966; 6.72%) group (P = 0.09). Only in the three studies specifically reporting on the rate of hydrocephalus after DC performed to address traumatic brain injury (TBI) alone was there a significantly lower incidence of hydrocephalus with early CP (P = 0.01).

Conclusion:

Early CP (within 90 days) after DC performed in TBI patients alone was associated with a lower incidence of hydrocephalus. However, this finding was not corroborated in the remaining eight studies involving CP for pathology exclusive of TBI.

Keywords

Cranioplasty

Decompressive craniectomy

Hydrocephalus

Ventriculoperitoneal shunt

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INTRODUCTION

Hydrocephalus is one of the main complications of decompressive craniectomy (DC).[9] In the literature, the rate of hydrocephalus after DC ranged from 11.9% to 36% in adults, with most cases requiring ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement (VPS).[8] Early cranioplasty (CP) was typically defined as those performed within ≤3 months after DC.[6] In this meta-analysis, we evaluated whether early versus late CP resulted in a lower rate of hydrocephalus following DC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Search strategy

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed utilizing the PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane databases from 1999 to 2020. Keywords included “Cranioplasty, early” or ‘‘cranioplasty, timing.”

Study selection and outcome

In 11 studies (comparative case control or cohort), we asked whether early CP (i.e., CP ≤3 months) versus later CP differently impacted the rate of hydrocephalus following DC [Table 1].[1-5,7,9,10-12,14]

Statistical method for meta-analysis

The meta-analysis was performed using STATA/IC 13.1 statistical package (StataCorp LP, College Station, TX, USA). The log odds ratios (LORs) and 95% confidence intervals for each outcome were then reckoned as by “early” and “late” time points. LORs were pooled using the Mantel–Haenszel method with fixed effects model. The I² metric was reported to further quantify heterogeneity (0% = no heterogeneity, 100% = maximal heterogeneity). P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Inclusion of eleven studies

Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria for this meta- analysis [Figure 1]. Ten studies were retrospective, and one study involved a prospective cohort.[1-5,7,9,10-12,14]

All papers were classified as level of evidence “IIIB.”

Indications for DC

Indications for initial DC included; arteriovenous malformations, ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, infection, ruptured aneurysm, trauma (i.e., traumatic brain injury [TBI] alone – 3 studies),[3,8,11] or tumors. Nine of 11 studies defined early CP as CP as those performed within equal to/ or <3 postoperative months versus late CP, occurring after 3 postoperative months. All studies reported the development of hydrocephalus as a complication following DC; in 8 of 11 studies, hydrocephalus required a VPS [Table 1].

Pooled rate of hydrocephalus

The pooled rate of hydrocephalus for these 11 studies averaged 7.93% (n = 161/2029, with a range of 0.7–28.4%). The rate of postoperative hydrocephalus was not significantly different between the early (=96/1063; 9.03%) and late CP (=65/966; 6.72%) groups [Figure 2].

However, in three studies solely involving patients undergoing DC for TBI, there was a significantly lower incidence of hydrocephalus in the early CP patients (=11/152; 7,23%) versus late CP (=36/171; 21.05%) [Figure 3].[3,8,11]

DISCUSSION

We utilized this meta-analysis to determine whether early CP decreased the rate of hydrocephalus following DC. Notably, we did not find any prospective, randomized, comparative studies to clearly answer this question.

Studies favoring early CP for DC to reduce incidence of hydrocephalus

In Xu et al. study in 2015, they reviewed three studies involving 312 patients that showed early CP following DC increased the risk of hydrocephalus.[15] When Tasiou et al. reviewed 10 studies evaluating the timing of CP after DC for TBI, four of which were included in our own meta-analysis, they reported a general trend for early CP to improve cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics and perfusion.[13]

Rate of hydrocephalus requiring VP shunt after DC

In 2016, Malcom et al. observed in four studies their following DC that the pooled rate of hydrocephalus requiring a VP shunt was slightly lower (5.6%) than the rate in our study (7.93%).[6]

Why would early CP decrease rates of hydrocephalus?

Early CP may restore normal intracranial CSF pressure dynamics resulting in the spontaneous resolution of hydrocephalus and other CSF disturbances. On the contrary, delayed cranial reconstruction, by prolonging this disruption, may result in permanent dysfunction of the arachnoid granulations resulting in permanent hydrocephalus (e.g., such as the one seen in hydrocephalus induced by long- term CSF drainage).[8,9]

CONCLUSION

Early CP (within or equal to 90 days) after DC performed in TBI patients was associated with a lower incidence of hydrocephalus. However, this finding was not corroborated in other studies for patients undergoing DC attributed to other etiologies.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with in ethical standards.

Declaration of patient consent

Patient’s consent not required as there are no patients in this study.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

REFERENCES

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Bjornson A, Tajsic T, Kolias AG, Wells A, Naushahi MJ, Anwar F, . A case series of early and late cranioplasty-comparison of surgical outcomes. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2019;161:467-72.
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Piedra MP, Ragel BT, Dogan A, Coppa ND, Delashaw JB. Timing of cranioplasty after decompressive craniectomy for ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. J Neurosurg. 2013;118:109-14.
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Piedra MP, Ragel BT, Dogan A, Coppa ND, Delashaw JB. Timing of cranioplasty after decompressive craniectomy for trauma. Surg Neurol Int. 2014;25:25.
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Quah BL, Low HL, Wilson MH, Bimpis A, Nga VD, Lwin S, . Is there an optimal time for performing cranioplasties? Results from a prospective multinational study. World Neurosurg. 2016;94:13-7.
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Tasiou A, Vagkopoulos K, Georgiadis I, Brotis AG, Gatos H, Fountas KN. Cranioplasty optimal timing in cases of decompressive craniectomy after severe head injury: A systematic literature review. Interdiscip Neurosurg. 2014;1:107-11.
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Walcott BP, Kwon CS, Sheth SA, Fehnel CR, Koffie RM, Asaad WF, . Predictors of cranioplasty complications in stroke and trauma patients. J Neurosurg. 2013;118:757-62.
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Xu H, Niu C, Fu X, Ding W, Ling S, Jiang X, . Early cranioplasty vs. Late cranioplasty for the treatment of cranial defect: A systematic review. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2015;136:33-40.
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Show Sections

[1] Bender A, Heulin S, Röhrer S, Mehrkens JH, Heidecke V, Straube A, . Early cranioplasty may improve outcome in neurological patients with decompressive craniectomy. Brain Inj. 2013;27:1073-9.
[Google Scholar]

[2] Bjornson A, Tajsic T, Kolias AG, Wells A, Naushahi MJ, Anwar F, . A case series of early and late cranioplasty-comparison of surgical outcomes. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2019;161:467-72.
[Google Scholar]

[3] Cho K, Park S. Safety and efficacy of early cranioplasty after decompressive craniectomy in traumatic brain injury patients. J Korean Neurotraumatol Soc. 2011;7:74-7.
[Google Scholar]

[4] Goedemans T, Verbaan D, van der Veer O, Bot M, Post R, Hoogmoed J, . Complications in cranioplasty after decompressive craniectomy: Timing of the intervention. J Neurol [Epub ahead of print]
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

[5] Hng D, Bhaskar MI, Khan FM, Budgeon C, Damodaran O, Knuckey N, . Delayed cranioplasty: Outcomes using frozen autologous bone flaps. Craniomaxillofac Trauma Reconstr. 2015;1:190-7.
[Google Scholar]

[6] Malcolm JG, Rindler RS, Chu JK, Grossberg JA, Pradilla G, Ahmad FU. Complications following cranioplasty and relationship to timing: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Neurosci. 2016;33:39-51.
[Google Scholar]

[7] Morton RP, Abecassis IJ, Hanson JF, Barber JK, Chen M, Kelly CM, . Timing of cranioplasty: A 10.75-year single-center analysis of 754 patients. J Neurosurg. 2018;128:1648-52.
[Google Scholar]

[8] Nasi D, Dobran M, Iacoangeli M, Di Somma L, Gladi M, Scerrati M. Paradoxical brain herniation after decompressive craniectomy provoked by drainage of subdural hygroma. World Neurosurg. 2016;91:673.e1-4.
[Google Scholar]

[9] Nasi D, Gladi M, Di Rienzo A, di Somma L, Moriconi E, Iacoangeli M, . Risk factors for post-traumatic hydrocephalus following decompressive craniectomy. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2018;160:1691-8.
[Google Scholar]

[10] Piedra MP, Ragel BT, Dogan A, Coppa ND, Delashaw JB. Timing of cranioplasty after decompressive craniectomy for ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. J Neurosurg. 2013;118:109-14.
[Google Scholar]

[11] Piedra MP, Ragel BT, Dogan A, Coppa ND, Delashaw JB. Timing of cranioplasty after decompressive craniectomy for trauma. Surg Neurol Int. 2014;25:25.
[Google Scholar]

[12] Quah BL, Low HL, Wilson MH, Bimpis A, Nga VD, Lwin S, . Is there an optimal time for performing cranioplasties? Results from a prospective multinational study. World Neurosurg. 2016;94:13-7.
[Google Scholar]

[13] Tasiou A, Vagkopoulos K, Georgiadis I, Brotis AG, Gatos H, Fountas KN. Cranioplasty optimal timing in cases of decompressive craniectomy after severe head injury: A systematic literature review. Interdiscip Neurosurg. 2014;1:107-11.
[Google Scholar]

[14] Walcott BP, Kwon CS, Sheth SA, Fehnel CR, Koffie RM, Asaad WF, . Predictors of cranioplasty complications in stroke and trauma patients. J Neurosurg. 2013;118:757-62.
[Google Scholar]

[15] Xu H, Niu C, Fu X, Ding W, Ling S, Jiang X, . Early cranioplasty vs. Late cranioplasty for the treatment of cranial defect: A systematic review. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2015;136:33-40.
[Google Scholar]