title: Reconstruction of a large complex skull defect in a child: a case report and literature review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Major skull defects, especially in the anterior region, can present as a most disturbing deformity. Reconstructive cranioplasty can restore cerebral protection and improve craniofacial aesthetics. Complex and large skull defects in children often present reconstructive difficulties.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this paper, an unusual case of a very large post-traumatic defect (318 cm(2)) in a child managed by a multidisciplinary team is described. The literature is reviewed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The management of a large complex skull defect in children is still controversial. Each case should be extensively debated in craniofacial units. In our case, bioceramics proved to be an effective and good alternative for final skull reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Campus Universitário, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14049-900, Brazil. rsoliveira@hcrp.fmrp.usp.br
authors.forename: Ricardo Santos
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brigato
authors.forename: João Flávio Gurjão
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Madureira
authors.forename: Antonio Augusto Velasco
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Francisco Veríssimo
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: de Mello Filho
authors.forename: Nivaldo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Helio Rubens
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Machado
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D002516:Ceramics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D020204:Skull Fracture, Depressed / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D018786:Bone Substitutes