Simple Bone Chip Replacement for Depressed Skull Fractures

Abstract

Background: Depressed skull fractures represent a significant proportion of traumatic brain injuries and are commonly associated with underlying dural tears, intracranial hematomas, and cosmetic deformity. Surgical elevation is generally recommended when depression exceeds the skull thickness or when neurological compromise is present. Traditional management may involve removal of fragmented bone and delayed cranioplasty; however, simple bone chip replacement at the time of initial surgery has been proposed as a safe, cost-effective alternative that preserves autologous tissue and reduces the need for secondary reconstruction.