SynthesisBrain and behavior2018
Timing for cranioplasty to improve neurological outcome: A systematic review.
Synthesis in Brain and behavior, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06895109 (Evaluation of Improvement in Cognitive Functions and Psychological Aspects in Patients With Severe Acquired Brain Injury After Cranioplasty), which is not on this map. Cited by 39 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Evaluation of Improvement in Cognitive Functions and Psychological Aspects in Patients With Severe Acquired Brain Injury After Cranioplasty
Who cites it
39 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Timing of cranioplasty after decompressive craniectomy and neurological recovery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Neurosurgical review · 2026Pooled it
- Optimal timing of cranioplasty post-decompressive craniectomy in traumatic brain injury: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and overview of ongoing trials.Acta neurochirurgica · 2026Pooled it
- Timing for cranioplasty to improve neurological outcome: A systematic review.Brain and behavior · 2018Pooled it
- Prevalence and clinical characterization of headache in patients with cranial bone defects: a single-center retrospective study.Acta neurologica Belgica · 2026Article
- Timing and Outcomes of Cranioplasty After Decompressive Craniectomy: A Systematic Review of Neurological Recovery, Complications, and Predictive Factors.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- Factors associated with complication of cranioplasty: CT-based risk assessment for early failure of autologous-bone cranioplasty.Neurosurgical review · 2026Article
- Cranioplasty with a 3D-printed titanium implant for post-decompressive craniectomy syndrome: A case report.Surgical neurology international · 2026Article
- Algorithmic Approach to Management of Complex Scalp and Calvarial Burn Injuries.Annals of plastic surgery · 2026Review
- Impact of Cranioplasty Timing and Status on Long-Term Survival and Functional Outcomes After Decompressive Craniectomy for Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.Brain sciences · 2025Article
- Article
- Challenges in Cranioplasty: A Case Report on Delayed Reconstruction and Postoperative Complications.Cureus · 2025Article
- The Approach to Cranioorbital Gunshot Wounds.Seminars in plastic surgery · 2025Review
- Malignant Cerebral Edema After Cranioplasty: A Case Report and Literature Insights.The American journal of case reports · 2025Review
- Post-craniotomy infections: A point-by-point approach.Brain & spine · 2025Article
- Single-center experience with ultra-early cranioplasty within 3 weeks after decompressive craniectomy.Frontiers in neurology · 2025Article
- A core outcome set for cranioplasty following stroke or traumatic brain injury - The COAST study.Brain & spine · 2025Article
- Surgical outcome after autologous bone chips replacement in depressed skull fractures: a single center experience.Neurosurgical review · 2024Article
- Craniectomy and Cranioplasty Effects on Balance and Gait in Rehabilitation: A Retrospective Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translation · 2024Article
- Customised pre-operative cranioplasty to achieve maximal surgical resection of tumours with osseous involvement-a case series.Acta neurochirurgica · 2024Article
- Decompressive craniectomy to cranioplasty: a retrospective observational study using Hospital Episode Statistics in England.BMJ surgery, interventions, & health technologies · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionCranioplasty is a surgical technique applied for the reconstruction of the skullcap removed during decompressive craniectomy (DC). Cranioplasty improves rehabilitation from a motor and cognitive perspective. However, it may increase the possibility of postoperative complications, such as seizures and infections. Timing of cranioplasty is therefore crucial even though literature is controversial. In this study, we compared motor and cognitive effects of early cranioplasty after DC and assess the optimal timing to perform it.
methodsA literature research was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. We selected studies including at least one of the following test: Mini-Mental State Examination, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test immediate and 30-min delayed recall, Digit Span Test, Glasgow Coma Scale, Glasgow Outcome Scale, Coma Recovery Scale-Revised, Level of Cognitive Functioning Scale, Functional Independence Measure, and Barthel Index.
resultsSix articles and two systematic reviews were included in the present study. Analysis of changes in pre- and postcranioplasty scores showed that an early procedure (within 90 days from decompressive craniectomy) is more effective in improving motor functions (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.51 [0.05; 0.97], p-value = 0.03), whereas an early procedure did not significantly improve neither MMSE score (SMD = 0.06 [-0.49; 0.61], p-value = 0.83) nor memory functions (SMD = -0.63 [-0.97; -0.28], p-value < 0.001). No statistical significance emerged when we compared studies according to the timing from DC.
conclusionsIt is believed that cranioplasty performed from 3 to 6 months after DC may significantly improve both motor and cognitive recovery.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.