After Skull Reshaping Can One Play Contact Sports?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in skull reshaping for a flat spot on the back of the head. My son is twelve and has a noticeable flat on the back of the right side of his head. He has not said anything about it yet. In preparation for the possibility of coming to see you, I have an important question. Does getting kryptonite mean he will never be able to play contact sports such as football again?

A: Skull reshaping that involves building out flat or depressed areas is done by applying a bone cement material on the outer aspect of the skull. In answer to your specific question, kryptonite as a cranial augmentation material is no longer available and has not been so since late 2011. In answer to your general question, augmentation of the occiput (back of the head) would in no way preclude one from participating in form of sporting activity including contact sports. The strength of the cranioplasty material up against the rigid skull bone makes for a very hard construct that has the same strength as that of natural skull bone. This makes it highly impact resistant to the infrequent contact to the head that may occur in most sports.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana