Can the skull be reattached after a craniotomy?

After a craniotomy, if the condition of the brain tissue is relatively good, the skull generally can be reattached. If the condition of the head is poor, the skull may not be able to be reattached. It is recommended to seek timely medical attention, clarify the condition, and undergo symptomatic treatment under the guidance of a professional physician.

If the patient's brain swelling is not significant, intracranial pressure is not high, or before surgery the brain swelling was not particularly pronounced and the increase in intracranial pressure was not especially severe, the main goal of the surgery may be to address intracranial lesions such as tumor removal or hematoma evacuation. In such cases, the skull typically can be reattached after surgery. This approach generally does not increase pressure on the brain tissue, nor does it negatively affect the surgical outcome or the patient's recovery process.

In certain situations, such as severe head trauma resulting in a comminuted skull fracture, or if the patient has a high risk of infection, immediate skull reconstruction may not be possible. In these cases, doctors might choose not to reattach the skull bone temporarily, instead using artificial materials to replace the missing portion or waiting until the patient's condition stabilizes before performing a second surgery for skull reconstruction. Additionally, if the patient has increased intracranial pressure, skull reconstruction may also be delayed temporarily.

Following a craniotomy, patients need to undergo regular follow-up head CT scans as directed by their physician to assess recovery. Postoperatively, patients should avoid strenuous physical activity to prevent an increase in intracranial pressure. During the skull recovery period, patients should take care to protect their head and avoid any external impact.