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All topics
  1. What it is
  2. Why it matters
  3. Timing
  4. The procedure
  5. Patient journey
  6. Recovery supplies
  7. Implant materials
  8. Side-by-side
  9. US manufacturers
  10. What the evidence says
  11. Value analysis
  12. Questions to ask
  13. Glossary
  14. Resources
  15. References

For patients and families

Questions to ask your surgeon

  1. Why do you recommend repairing my skull now, and what happens if we wait?
  2. Is my own bone flap available and usable? If so, what is my risk of it resorbing?
  3. Which implant material do you recommend for me, and why that one?
  4. Will the implant be made specifically for me from my CT scan, or shaped during surgery?
  5. How thin is my scalp over the defect, and does that change which material is safest?
  6. What are the signs of infection or other problems I should watch for after surgery?
  7. Will the implant affect future CT or MRI scans?
  8. How many of these operations do you do each year, and with which materials?