Craniectomy: Life on Hold

My boyfriend had a car accident last week and they said his brain was swelling and he had slight bleeding. They rushed him into o.r. And took out his right skull (bone flap). So the brain could have room and they said that if all goes well 3 months they'll have it back in. Each day he's improving by walking, talking, and eating from not knowing if he'll be ok cause the doctor said it's going to be about 5 to 7 days to see if he'll make it. But he's veering to the left when he's walking and his short term memory is affected. Long term memory he has but he's disoriented and confused. I'm so anxious but patience is key cause I understand this is a long recovery.

I get "my skull put back together" Feb.6, 2019. Thank you for this blog. Springfield, IL

Hello, on the 28 July 2018 my husband was assaulted whilst trying to separate an altercation with some other friends. He endured severe brain injuries and on day 1 of his injury had an ICP monitor put into the skull to monitor the pressure and swelling. The swelling increased after day 4 and he had to go for an emergency operation to remove a part of his skull to release the pressure. The bone flap was placed in his abdomen area. After 4 weeks, he went to theater to replace the bone flap however the bone flap was infected and the operation did not proceed. After 2 months he developed hydrocephalus and had a shunt put in. However after 4 days this had to be removed due to over draining. A programmable shunt was then put in. This worked fine and was switch off remotely after 2 weeks when the fluid levels were ok. After a 3 month period, a cranioplasty was done using a titanium mesh to replace the bone flap. Within days of this procedure, he started to talk a little, memory gain, use of his right arm and legs, eating etc... The next step is rehab so that he can learn to walk again and use his hands. He had a seizure a couple days ago but the doctors say nothing serious as they just need to increase the dosage of the anti-seizure medication. He has been in hospital for the last 115 days and soon to be discharged to the rehab facility . He has lost a lot of weight but all good now. It's been a long, tough road but we can finally see the light. Any recovering patients had seizures post-cranioplasty with a titanium mesh?

My brother was on a scooter and hit by a truck on May 31st this year. His plate should be finished and surgery to replace the left side is scheduled November 6th. He has been in the hospital the whole time. He is no longer able to to make words and this gives me hope that once the piece is on he will improve. He won’t be able to come home but I hope for some quality of life for him. The stress and anxiety has been unreal for both my mother and me and there is still such a long road to go. Thank you for this post. I needed someone to relate too and how they handle this situation. We all have not gotten to move forward yet to what is the new life. Wow it is so tough. This gives me hope.

Thank You! My nephew undergoes Cranioplasty tomorrow just over 12 weeks post severe head injury. Your positive story has helped me. I understand feeling anxious!

Thank you for posting it definitely gives me some much need insight on the road ahead for my family.

This is a nice post explaining a lot about life on hold. I really appreciate your efforts to do so. Keep Posting.

I had a cranioplasty using an artificial bone flap. This was preceded by infection meaning that my original bone flap could not be used. The four months that I had to wait until the Doctor was happy that the infection was under control were difficult. Loss of balance, difficulty with speech, impaired mobility, the list was long.
I returned home today, the difference is remarkable. I can walk, talk, and I am looking forward to gradually regaining most if not all of my function.

Hello quick question. My boyfriend recently was involved in a really bad motorcycle accident. He had many problem such as fractured skull on one side along with face and bleeding on the other side of the brain. Along with broken ribs from chest compressions. He recently had the surgery to fix broken face bones which I find is a good start. Then about a week not even more or so 3/4 days later he was cleared to start rehab. He has amnesia and can not remember who I am. They think it may be short term. I was wondering due to the fact that I've seen almost everyone post the same length of time. Is it usually 3 months after a craniectomy does the bone flap go back or in general a doctor looks to see if it's ready to go back? I'm really curious if anyone can give me some sort of info on that because google and research in general hasn't shown anything. I just want to know if it's 3 months due to the fact that before this accident we planned to start a family that next week. Thank you again everyone for your time and help.

Hi everyone, I've had two craniectomies and since had to put my "life on hold" twice. The first was an emergency surgery to allow my brain to swell after I was hit in the head by a while playing softball.The second one was done to clean out an infection I got after my bone flap had been replaced. There was a brief period of time when I actually had a full skull before Then a mysterious infection hit my life Islas somehow become the x files. It's like a cruel joke that somebody is playing on me :( I now await my second cranioplasty without any idea of whether I will get back my own bone flap or a prosthetic. It's difficult to live with a bone flap I'm always paranoid about rolling onto my right side while I sleep. I'm also tired of wearing a helmet all the time.

I am trying to post again...to the woman concerned about having the surgery and being home with your young son's. You are sent home with in just a few days. Your first few days home you are in need of some help from your family but you will be home with your family and very coherent when not on pain meds. I had a bit more than the craniectomy done but I am feeling so much better. Don't prolong your surgery. Symptoms can stay the same or worsen. No one knows when this can happen and for me personally I did not want that risk.

My wife after 11 years had to have her bone flap re-removed after replacing it. If I would have known back then I would have never had the use the same bone flap. Our neurosurgeon said it is safest to have a Prosthetic to replace it. I can tell you that the last three months have been filled with her fighting a infection and about five weeks in the hospital. Her bone flap was just replaced and and just overnight what a difference it has made having her whole again. No more nausea spells and balance issues.

I had 3 brain aneurysms in 2006, had brain surgery and 2 months later MRSA infection. I just had my 11th surgery on Dec 6,2016 because of another infection that after almost 5 yrs set in. Now no skull again, home on vancomicin picc and waiting for surgery #12. Let's hope this will be my last? Chins up and move on, keeping a positive attitude also can help.

I've had the same surgery. The neurologist told my mom the same. In 3 months the swelling will go down and then bring me back so they would put the bone back to my skull. The funny this is, they didn't put the bone in any freezer they slit above my right abdomen and put the bone there for healing. I went back 3 months when the swelling went down but the docs told me they couldn't do it because I didn't have health insurance. That was in '04. I finally had the second surgery in 2010. Imagine living like that.

I had both surgeries - first for a subdural hemorrhage, then 2.5 months later I received my bone flap. When I had my "partial skull" everything was a challenge. Eating hurt because it hurt to move my jaws, cold was an instant brain freeze, hot food was an instant headache, riding in the car was a nightmare - my brain was a loose egg flying around with every slight movement. The subdural hemorrhage caused brain herniation so by giving my brain room to work it all out, that issue corrected itself. When I got my one flap back it was as if someone snapped their fingers and I was all well physically anyway. I was out of the hospital in a tad bit under 46 hrs. Mentally it is a bit slower, but doc is referring me to some counseling. My Hubby too put our lives on hold while I recovered. Truly an amazing procedure. It has been just a bit over 6 months since the brain nightmare, and 4 months since the bone flap fix. I am now all better.