Improvement of cerebral blood perfusion in certain cerebral regions after cranioplasty could be monitored via tympanic membrane temperature changes

ABSTRACTObjective: Delayed neurological deficit was often observed in patients underwent craniectomy, which could be improved by cranioplasty. Little is known about hemodynamic improvement before and after cranioplasty.Methods: Cerebral blood perfusion, tympanic membrane temperature (TMT), neuropsychological and cognitive function were assessed in eleven craniectomy patients before and after cranioplasty.Results: Before cranioplasty, the cerebral blood volume (CBV) on the decompressed side was significantly lower than that of the contralateral side. The cranioplasty led to instant improvement (7 days after cranioplasty) of cerebral perfusion at the cranioplasty side in the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, mesencephalon, basal ganglia and thalamus, but not the occipital lobe and epencephalon. Interestingly, CBV of the thalamus and basal ganglia gradually decreased to pre-surgical status 6 months later while the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, mesencephalon remained well perfused. Mea...