“I was left with a hole in the skull after hematoma evacuation. Is it safe?”

Hello, I am not a neurosurgeon and you should go back to the one that performed your procedure for an adequate follow up. However, it sounds like you had a craniotomy, and by itself, the long term effects shouldn’t be dangerous. But please consult with a neurosurgeon to check you thoroughly. I wish you well.

I would recommend yo see a plastic surgeon with experience in cranio facial surgery.
Best Regards
Dr Gartner

There are many causes, you need to see your neurologist or neurosurgeon.

William A. Stefani, MD

It is advisable that you consult with a local skull base surgeon, if you happen to be in the New York City area and would like to come in for consultation, please call our office

You will need a CAT scan to deternine size of the defect. Nature has created a strong protection (the skull) for one of the most important organs in our body. Loss of this protection can have severe effects. The symptoms are usually size and location related. These symptoms vary from mild to severe headaches, loss of balance, seizures etc. The need to repair will depend of the degree of symptoms. There are many ways to repair the defect. The ideal material is your own bone. Paucity of bone material may indicate use of foreign material called alloplastics. In my years treating craniofacial trauma, I have seen great results after this type of reconstructive surgery. Any craniofacial surgeon (a subspecialty in plastic surgery) can successfully treat this.

You need to get your skull defect repaired, it does present a portal for injury or infection.

This can happen if the “bone flap” doesn’t survive, which is a 50/50 proposition. 5 cm or 2 inches is no issue, from a safety stance in most folks. Happy to discuss options, but lifestyle is a big consideration.

Thanks,
Dr. Gerstle