Skull Implant

Q: Dr. Eppley, Pursuant to our presurgical conversion about a custom skull implant, I just had two questions.  

I still play hockey, ride bikes etc. How long will it take before the skull implant becomes attached so it can’t move because of wearing a helmet and bouncing around ? 

The other thing is more a potentially irrational concern but if there is any question about how much bone to remove I’d error on the side of less bone even if it doesn’t go completely flat. I say that because I’m envisioning a hard crash into the board some day in hockey (albeit I’m pretty slow anymore so probably not a hard crash…) and nervous about having a weak spot.   

I am looking forward to having the procedure regardless. 

A: The skull implant becomes attached quite quickly. But to be safe I would give it a good six weeks and then you can return to all activities regardless of their rigor. Like I said in the office this is like putting a bumper on your head so it adds protection to the skull and does not makes it more vulnerable to injury or fracture from trauma.

Also the amount of bone removed in a sagittal crest skull reduction is not enough to make the skull more prone to fracture afterwards.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana