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Recruiting NCT06740773

Risk Factors for Complications After Cranioplasty

— Observational Cranioplasty Postoperative Complications Risk Assessment

For patients and families

In plain language

An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.

What is being studied
This is an observational study: the protocol does not assign a study treatment.
Who it may be relevant to
Registry conditions: Cranioplasty, Postoperative Complications, Risk Assessment. Basic parameters: No limits · All.
What needs checking
Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
Where it takes place
China
Next step
Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →

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Official title

A Retrospective Study to Identify Risk Factors for Complications After Cranioplasty

Overview

Cranial defects often result from brain injuries, hemorrhages, strokes, or brain tumors. These conditions can increase pressure inside the skull, and if left untreated, may lead to dangerous complications like brain herniation. To manage this, a common procedure called decompressive craniectomy is performed to reduce intracranial pressure. While this surgery often stabilizes the patient's condition, it leaves a cranial defect that exposes the brain to external risks, including pressure fluctuations and potential damage. In severe cases, patients with larger defects may develop complications such as sinking skin flap syndrome. Cranial reconstruction, also known as cranioplasty, is an important procedure to restore the skull's structure and protect the brain. This surgery can improve brain function, stabilize intracranial pressure, and enhance the patient's appearance. While cranioplasty is a standard neurosurgical procedure, it has a relatively high risk of complications compared to other brain surgeries. Common complications include infections, bleeding, hydrocephalus, and seizures. In severe cases, complications may lead to the failure of the reconstruction. Understanding the factors that contribute to complications after cranioplasty is crucial for neurosurgeons to improve outcomes and reduce risks. This study aims to identify these factors and develop predictive models for postoperative complications of cranioplasty.

Detailed description

Cranial defects, often caused by conditions such as traumatic brain injuries, strokes, or brain tumors, present a significant clinical challenge. Decompressive craniectomy, frequently performed to manage increased intracranial pressure, leaves patients with cranial defects that require subsequent cranioplasty. Cranioplasty, while being a common neurosurgical procedure, has a higher complication rate compared to other cranial surgeries, warranting a deeper investigation into its risk factors.

In addition to identifying risk factors, this study aims to develop and validate predictive models for postoperative complications. Advanced statistical techniques, such as machine learning algorithms, will be used to assess the contribution of individual variables to complication risk.

By leveraging a large multi-center dataset, the study seeks to provide actionable insights into the prevention of postoperative complications. The results are expected to inform clinical decision-making, enhance patient outcomes, and improve the quality of perioperative care in neurosurgical practice.

Primary outcome measures

  • Risk factors for postoperative complications of cranioplasty [Time frame: From the date of cranioplasty to the date of hospital discharge, with complications assessed throughout the hospitalization period, up to 60 days.]
Secondary outcome measures (1)
  • Establishment predictive models for postoperative complications of cranioplasty [Time frame: From the date of cranioplasty to the date of hospital discharge, with complications assessed throughout the hospitalization period, up to 60 days.]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients who underwent cranioplasty in the Department of Neurosurgery at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Tangdu Hospital of Air Force Medical University, or Daping Hospital, Army Military Medical University between January 1, 2015, and July 31, 2023
  • Diagnosed with cranial defects
  • Possessed complete and accessible electronic medical records
  • Patients had no prior history of cranioplasty

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients with a prior history of cranioplasty
  • Severe comorbidities (such as serious cardiac, liver, kidney and immune system dysfunction)
  • Congenital cranial defects
  • Severe missing data

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Observational model
Cohort

Study locations

China · 3 centers
  • Department of Neurosurgery, Daping Hospital of Army Medical University — Chongqing
  • Department of Neurosurgery, Tang-Du Hospital — Xi'an
  • Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University — Jinan

Publications

  • Bader ER, Kobets AJ, Ammar A, Goodrich JT. Factors predicting complications following cranioplasty. J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2022 Feb;50(2):134-139. doi: 10.1016/j.jcms.2021.08.001. Epub 2021 Aug 25. PMID 34580005
  • Chaturvedi J, Botta R, Prabhuraj AR, Shukla D, Bhat DI, Devi BI. Complications of cranioplasty after decompressive craniectomy for traumatic brain injury. Br J Neurosurg. 2016;30(2):264-8. doi: 10.3109/02688697.2015.1054356. Epub 2015 Jun 17. PMID 26083136
  • Zanaty M, Chalouhi N, Starke RM, Clark SW, Bovenzi CD, Saigh M, Schwartz E, Kunkel ES, Efthimiadis-Budike AS, Jabbour P, Dalyai R, Rosenwasser RH, Tjoumakaris SI. Complications following cranioplasty: incidence and predictors in 348 cases. J Neurosurg. 2015 Jul;123(1):182-8. doi: 10.3171/2014.9.JNS14405. Epub 2015 Mar 13. PMID 25768830
  • Belzberg M, Mitchell KA, Ben-Shalom N, Asemota AO, Wolff AY, Santiago GF, Shay T, Huang J, Manson PN, Brem H, Gordon CR. Cranioplasty Outcomes From 500 Consecutive Neuroplastic Surgery Patients. J Craniofac Surg. 2022 Sep 1;33(6):1648-1654. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000008546. Epub 2022 Mar 4. PMID 35245275
  • 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 Nov;33:39-51. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2016.04.017. Epub 2016 Aug 4. PMID 27499122
  • Singh S, Singh R, Jain K, Walia B. Cranioplasty following decompressive craniectomy - Analysis of complication rates and neurological outcomes: A single center study. Surg Neurol Int. 2019 Jul 19;10:142. doi: 10.25259/SNI_29_2019. eCollection 2019. PMID 31528477
  • Honeybul S, Ho KM. Long-term complications of decompressive craniectomy for head injury. J Neurotrauma. 2011 Jun;28(6):929-35. doi: 10.1089/neu.2010.1612. Epub 2011 Jun 1. PMID 21091342
  • Henry J, Amoo M, Murphy A, O'Brien DP. Complications of cranioplasty following decompressive craniectomy for traumatic brain injury: systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2021 May;163(5):1423-1435. doi: 10.1007/s00701-021-04809-z. Epub 2021 Mar 23. PMID 33759012

Identifiers

NCT: NCT06740773 · KYLL-202407-041

Primary sources (government registries)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗