Background: Autologous bone flap reinsertion follows as a second surgical intervention after decompressive craniectomy in patients with malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction. In addition to surgery-related short-term complications, aseptic resorption of the reimplanted bone flap is a possible long-term problem which has not yet been sufficiently elucidated in these patients.
Methods: A total of 109 patients who had undergone decompressive hemicraniectomy for malignant MCA infarction in our institution between September 1994 and December 2011 were included in the study. Clinical and radiological findings were retrieved retrospectively. Aseptic bone necrosis was classified into two categories based on computer tomographic features.
Results: A total of 76 patients received their own cryoconserved bone flap (mean age 54.34 ± 10.73 years; 49 males). The overall short-term complication rate was 9.2 %. Bone flap necrosis occurred in 26 patients (22.8 %) with 7 flaps showing signs of surgically relevant type II necrosis after a median time of 14 months (interquartile range [IQR] 4-22).
Conclusions: There is a noticeable complication rate in patients undergoing bone flap reinsertion after hemicraniectomy due to malignant MCA infarction. Aseptic bone necrosis represents a significant complication during long-term follow-up. The pathophysiological mechanisms remain unclear and more efforts should be undertaken to understand and possibly prevent this complication in these patients.