Neurocirugia
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Cranioplasty is carried out for cosmetic reasons and for protection, but it may also lead to some neurological improvement after the bone flap placement. Complications of cranioplasty are more frequent than expected for a scheduled neurosurgical procedure. We tried to identify factors associated with both complications and improvement after cranioplasty. ⋯ The complication rate of cranioplasty is higher than for other elective neurosurgical procedures. Older age, poorer functional situation (worse Barthel index score) and early surgery (≤85 days) are independent risk factors for complications. However, cranioplasty produces clinical benefits beyond protection and esthetic improvement. Earlier surgery and larger bone defects seem to increase the likelihood of clinical improvement.