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Review
. 2025:133:157-168.
doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-61601-3_22.

Complications Following Decompressive Craniectomy

Dhaval P Shukla  1
Affiliations
Review

Complications Following Decompressive Craniectomy

Dhaval P Shukla. Acta Neurochir Suppl. 2025.

Abstract

Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is performed to treat refractory intracranial hypertension following traumatic brain injury and stroke. Though technically not demanding, DC is still associated with several early and delayed complications. Early complications can be fatal, whereas delayed complications may result in regression of recovery. Adequately sized DC along with aggressive medical management mitigates most of the acute complications whereas early cranioplasty prevents delayed complications.

Keywords: Cranioplasty; Decompressive craniectomy; Hinge craniotomy; Subdural hygroma; Syndrome of the trephined.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration. Author B.I.D. is a member of the National Institute of Health Research and its Global Health Research Group on Neurotrauma. The latter is supported by the National Institute of Health Research using Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding (16/137/105). The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the National Health Service (NHS), the National Institute for Health Research, or the Department of Health.

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