Haemorrhagic infarction after autologous cranioplasty in a patient with sinking flap syndrome.

Sinking flap syndrome is a potential complication of large decompressive craniectomies that usually resolves completely after cranioplasty. We report a 77 year-old female who underwent an autologous cranioplasty to treat a sinking flap syndrome. In the first post-operative day she developed a large hemispheric haemorrhagic infarction. In this report we discuss the possible pathogenic mechanism of such a complication.