How Can The Dent In My Head From A Depressed Skull Fracture Be Fixed?

Q:  Dr. Eppley,  I have a depressed skull fracture as a result of a head butt injury.  What are my options for reconstruction?

A:  While I don’t know the location or exact extent of your depressed contour skull deformity, it is highly likely that an onlay cranioplasty procedure can completely restore the shape of the skull. Material can always be added to build the bone back to a normal contour and there are multiple options to do so including polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and a variety of hydroxyapatite formulations. This is actually a fairly simple procedure that is very effective. The only significant question is as to what incisional approach can be used to adequately perform the cranioplasty. Without knowing where the exact location and size of the skull issue i, I could not answer that question. I would be able to answer that question better if you could send me a picture of the depressed skull area.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana