title: Encephalocele and associated skull defects.
abstract: Encephalocele is a common congenital problem in the practice of Neurosurgery worldwide, with varying sizes of the underlying skull defects. This study was carried out to determine the size of the problem; to assess whether the skull defects are being under-managed or not; and also to determine those patients that will benefit from cranioplasty. The case notes of the patients with encephalocele managed over a 5 year period were reviewed and the relevant data obtained. Seventy-six percent of the patients had occipital encephalocele. The average diameter of the skull defect was 1.8 cm. Only 2 (9.5%) of the patients had cranioplasty. Cosmesis was acceptable to all the patients. No recurrence was noted in the series studied. We therefore concluded that the skull defects are not being under-managed, however large anteriorly based lesions with wide skull defects (i.e >2.5 cm) will require cranioplasty.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University College Hospital, Ibadan, PMB 5116.
authors.forename: E O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Komolafe
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Shokunbi
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Malomo
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Oluwatosin
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Adeolu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tahir
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods; D004677:Encephalocele / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012886:Skull / Q000601:surgery