Unexpected neuropsychological improvement after cranioplasty: a case series study

Objective. Decompressive craniectomy is often emergently performed in an effort to reduce intracranial hypertension. After this urgent intervention, brain-injured patients often start rehabilitation programs but are left with a skull defect. Cranioplasty is often performed in these situations in order to repair this defect, mainly for cosmetic reasons and/or the patient's safety. The possible effects of this breach on the patients’ neurological recovery are poorly understood and have been scarcely evaluated until now. The effect of cranioplasty on cognitive and motor functions in severely brain-injured individuals remains controversial. Methods and procedures. In order to further support evidence of the beneficial effects of cranioplasty on motor and cognitive function in severely brain-injured individuals, we discuss four cases, retrospectively selected among a cohort of several patients who underwent decompressive craniectomy after severe brain injury. The selected patients presented a biphasic pattern ...