Useful resources

If you need help now

For a medical emergency, including a seizure or signs of stroke, call 911.

• National Brain Injury Information CenterBrain Injury Association of America

  Free help finding rehabilitation, legal, financial and support services. Call 1-800-444-6443, weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern. It can't give medical diagnoses.

• Stroke Family WarmlineAmerican Stroke Association

  Talk with a trained specialist if a stroke led to the craniectomy. Call 1-888-478-7653, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central.

Learn about cranioplasty and brain injury

Trusted patient-education pages from major medical centers and the US government.

• CranioplastyMayo Clinic

  Why cranioplasty is done, the risks, and what recovery involves.

• Cranioplasty: procedure, recovery and risksCleveland Clinic

  A plain-language overview, including how to prepare and what to expect afterward.

• CranioplastyJohns Hopkins Medicine

  What happens before, during and after surgery.

• Traumatic brain injuryAmerican Association of Neurological Surgeons

  Symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and outlook from the neurosurgeons' professional society.

• Traumatic brain injuryNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

  The National Institutes of Health overview of causes, treatment and research.

Support for patients, families and caregivers

Organizations that help with life after brain injury, stroke and surgery.

• Brain Injury Association of AmericaBIAA

  The national brain injury advocacy organization, with education, research news and links to state affiliates.

• TBI factsheetsModel Systems Knowledge Translation Center

  Free, research-based factsheets on sleep, headaches, driving, fatigue and more, written with the federally funded TBI Model Systems.

• TBI Model Systems directoryModel Systems Knowledge Translation Center

  Find a federally funded TBI Model Systems rehabilitation center.

• BrainLineWETA public television

  Research-based information and personal stories about brain injury for patients, families and professionals.

• Stroke support group finderAmerican Stroke Association

  Find an in-person or online stroke support group near you.

• Family Caregiver AllianceFamily Caregiver Alliance

  Practical help for family caregivers of adults, including care planning tools and caregiver resources.

• Polytrauma/TBI System of CareUS Department of Veterans Affairs

  Specialized rehabilitation for veterans and service members with brain injury, from combat or civilian life.

Costs, insurance and medical bills

Help understanding estimates, bills and coverage. See also our guide to cranioplasty costs.

• Medical bill rightsCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services

  Your rights to a good faith estimate if you don't use insurance, and protection from surprise bills. Questions or complaints: 1-800-985-3059.

• Patient Advocate FoundationPatient Advocate Foundation

  A national nonprofit offering case management help with insurance, medical debt and access to care.

Finding a surgeon

• Find a neurosurgeonAmerican Association of Neurological Surgeons

  Search AANS member neurosurgeons by location or subspecialty, with board certification listed.

For clinicians and value analysis teams

Primary sources for checking evidence, regulatory status and device safety reports.

• PubMed: cranioplastyNational Library of Medicine

  Search the published cranioplasty literature.

• ClinicalTrials.gov: cranioplastyNational Library of Medicine

  Recruiting, active and completed cranioplasty trials.

• FDA 510(k) premarket notification databaseUS Food and Drug Administration

  Look up a cranial implant's clearance number, date and cleared indications.

• MAUDE adverse event databaseUS Food and Drug Administration

  Medical device reports submitted to the FDA. Reports are unverified and can't be used to calculate rates.