Protocol for the development of a multidisciplinary clinical practice guideline for the care of patients with chronic subdural haematoma.

Introduction: A common neurosurgical condition, chronic subdural haematoma (cSDH) typically affects older people with other underlying health conditions. The care of this potentially vulnerable cohort is often, however, fragmented and suboptimal. In other complex conditions, multidisciplinary guidelines have transformed patient experience and outcomes, but no such framework exists for cSDH. This paper outlines a protocol to develop the first comprehensive multidisciplinary guideline from diagnosis to long-term recovery with cSDH. Methods: The project will be guided by a steering group of key stakeholders and professional organisations and will feature patient and public involvement. Multidisciplinary thematic working groups will examine key aspects of care to formulate appropriate, patient-centered research questions, targeted with evidence review using the GRADE framework. The working groups will then formulate draft clinical recommendations to be used in a modified Delphi process to build consensus on guideline contents. Conclusions: We present a protocol for the development of a multidisciplinary guideline to inform the care of patients with a cSDH, developed by cross-disciplinary working groups and arrived at through a consensus-building process, including a modified online Delphi.

Titanium cranioplasty and the prediction of complications.

OBJECTIVES: Titanium cranioplasty (TC), the operative repair of a skull defect with an ergonomically manufactured plate to restore cosmesis, cranial function and reduce complications is a common neurosurgical procedure. It is technically simple but has high complication rates. This study aimed to determine the incidence and predictors of complications following TC. DESIGN: Retrospective review. SUBJECTS: All patients undergoing TC over a 42-month period in our institution. METHODS: Data was collected from the hospital database and case-notes. 3D CT reconstructions accurately measured defect size and location. Statistical analysis included correlation, independent variable analysis and descriptive methods. RESULTS: A total of 95 TCs were analysed in 92 patients (3 cases of bifrontal cranioplasty). The commonest indications for TC were bony defect following removal of infected bone flap (n = 20), acute subdural haematoma (n = 18) and post-malignant infarction (n = 11). The commonest site was frontotemporoparietal (n = 61) and the overall complication rate was 30.4%. The commonest complication was infection and the overall removal rate was 8.4%. The mean cranioplasty area was 73.26 cm(2) (range 12.78-178.26 cm(2)). There was a significant relationship between area and length of post-operative hospital stay (p = 0.008, Pearson Rank). There was no significant relationship between area and complications, removal rates or infections. There was no relationship between age and total complications, post-operative hospital stay and infections. There was a non-significant trend for older patients to have their cranioplasty removed. CONCLUSIONS: TC size is predictive of postoperative length of stay. However, the TC size is not predictive of complications or removal rate. Also, there was no association between interval since primary operation and complications. There was a non-significant trend for greater rates of TC removal in the elderly. There were no predictors of complications identified but they are common and patients should be consented accordingly.