Proposal for establishment of the UK Cranial Reconstruction Registry (UKCRR).
BACKGROUND
The increasing utilisation of decompressive craniectomy for traumatic brain injury and stroke has led to an increase in the number of cranioplasties undertaken. Cranioplasty is also undertaken following excision of tumours originating from or invading the skull vault, removal of bone flaps due to post-operative infection, and decompressive craniectomy for the management of rarer causes of brain oedema and/or refractory intracranial hypertension. The existing literature which mainly consists of single-centre, retrospective studies, shows a significant variation in practice patterns and a wide range of morbidity. There also exists a need to measure the outcome as perceived by the patients themselves with patient reported outcome measures (PROMs; functional outcome, quality of life, satisfaction with cosmesis). In the UK, the concept of long-term surveillance of neurosurgical implants is well established with the UK shunt registry. Based on this background, we propose to establish the UK Cranial Reconstruction Registry (UKCRR).


OBJECTIVE
The overarching aim of the UKCRR is to collect high-quality data about cranioplasties undertaken across the UK and Ireland in order to improve outcomes for patients.


METHODS
Any patient undergoing reconstruction of the skull vault with autologous bone, titanium, or synthetic material in participating units will be eligible for inclusion. Data will be submitted directly by participating units to the Outcome Registry Intervention and Operation Network secure platform. A Steering Committee will be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction and running of the UKCRR.


METHODS
These will include re-operation due to a cranioplasty-related issue, surgical site infection, re-admission due to a cranioplasty-related issue, unplanned post-operative escalation of care, adverse events, length of stay in admitting unit, destination at discharge from admitting unit, mortality at discharge from admitting unit, neurological status and PROMs during routine follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
The UKCRR will be an important pillar in the ongoing efforts to optimise the outcomes of patients undergoing cranioplasty.
Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Addenbrooke's Hospital & University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK.
Angelos G
AG
Kolias
Diederik O
DO
Bulters
Christopher J
CJ
Cowie
Mark H
MH
Wilson
Fardad T
FT
Afshari
Adel
A
Helmy
Ellie
E
Broughton
Alexis J
AJ
Joannides
Bassel
B
Zebian
Stuart E
SE
Harrisson
Ciaran S
CS
Hill
Animul I
AI
Ahmed
Damiano G
DG
Barone
Bhaskar
B
Thakur
Catherine J
CJ
McMahon
David M
DM
Adlam
Robert P
RP
Bentley
Christos M
CM
Tolias
Patrick M
PM
Mitchell
Peter C
PC
Whitfield
Giles R
GR
Critchley
Antonio
A
Belli
Paul M
PM
Brennan
Peter J
PJ
Hutchinson
D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D019992:Databases as Topic; D056424:Decompressive Craniectomy; D006257:Head / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012042:Registries; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom
cranioplasty; decompressive craniectomy; stroke; surveillance; traumatic brain injury