Hydrocephalus post Cranioplasty

[Kezza72]

Hi, my daughter had a brain injury last year. She had a craniectomy and had a cranioplasty in October. For the last month or so, she has woken with a severe headache several times. Twice in the last week. Plus in the last month she’s started with balance problems. She looses her balance when walking, often staggering backwards. Her last CT scan in December showed her ventricles were slightly enlarged, she has an MRI next week so we will see if that has got worse. My concern is that her symptoms are pointing to hydrocephalus, which is common after a cranioplasty. However, her neurosurgeon said it’s a bit late post cranioplasty to develop hydrocephalus. Anyone out there developed Hydrocephalus post a cranioplasty, and if so what timeframe was yours? Thanks I’m advance x

[cat3]

I don't have hydrocephalus Kezza but I still, after 9 years, suffer with poor balance (had quite a few falls) and headaches ; these are such common after-effects of brain injury.

I hope your daughter's MRi proves the enlargements are only slight and not an additional complication. I suspect her brain needs much longer than 3 months to recover from the bruising and trauma of such invasive procedures but please keep us updated on results etc..

Love Cat x

[New_beginning]

3mths is too soon, but reassuring MRI fast approaching which must be heightening emotions with the anticipation. I have no answers, but be useful noting your daughters observations, with medication has this been reviewed or recording timing of meds when its happening. How long is your daughter sleeping for, if over normal amount of sleep she may need some fluids during that period. Any behaviour change, and speech changes when epidsode occurs or during and after.

I hope all goes well with your daughter, all the best. Sorry not got answers

[cindybusa]

my son had it but it was a few days after his surgery but his ct still shows some hydrocephalus a year later. my sons enlargements are still there but his dr does not seem concerned about it. however in the last few weeks he has developed a memory loss from the day before. no one can help me explain this.