[An approach for the measurement of the surface area of scalp flap over the cranial defect after decompressive craniectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To introduce a simple, fast and universal measuring method used in measurement of the surface area of scalp flap over the cranial defect after decompressive craniectomy. METHODS: The first step: CT images of the patient with craniocerebral trauma after decompressive craniectomy were obtained and imported into Mimics. The second step: based on the defined threshold, the 3D geometric models of brain and skull were reconstructed after the original Dicom format pictures three-dimensional processed by Mimics. The third step: based on the two builded 3D models, utilizing the segmentation and measurement tools of Mimics to conduct cutting, splitting and measuring operations for the 3D model of brain. The forth step: estimating the surface area of scalp flap over the removed bone flap by using mathematical computation methods. RESULTS: The application of the introduced method estimated the surface area of scalp flap over the cranial defect of different people with different position of craniocerebral trauma. CONCLUSIONS: This paper introduces a simple, fast and universal new measuring method. We can conveniently estimate the surface area of scalp flap by using the introduced method.