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Decompressive craniectomy procedures are used for malignant hemispheric infarctions. However, the temporal muscle and fascia are significant limiting factors for external herniation of an edematous brain. Therefore, the authors performed a decompressive craniectomy and expansive duraplasty combined with resection of the temporal muscle and fascia for 15 patients with a malignant hemispheric infarction. The volume of the maximum external herniation that was measured on the basis of a CT volumetry study ranged from 130 to 300 ml (mean +/- standard deviation, 200 +/- 64 ml) on postoperative Day 3.2 +/- 1.5 (range 2-5 days postoperatively). The mean value represented a 2-fold volume expansion in comparison with the conventional decompressive craniectomy, and the greater the external herniation obtained by external decompression, the smaller the midline brain shift after surgery. The mortality rate, favorable outcomes (modified Rankin Scale Scores 1-3), and unfavorable outcomes were 20, 60, and 20%, respectively, and the masticatory function was only minimally affected. Furthermore, a cranioplasty involving reconstruction of the temporal muscle defect performed using a MEDPOR implant resulted in good cosmetic outcomes with no temporal hollow. Resection of the temporal muscle in a decompressive craniectomy was shown to provide greater decompression and better clinical outcomes for malignant hemispheric infarctions at an acceptable cost of minimal masticatory dysfunction and cosmetic disfigurement.

With the use of this muscle-preserving and bone-sparing pterional approach and with little additional labor, temporalis muscle function is preserved and improved cosmesis is obtained.

SIH can present with various clinical presentations and neuroimaging findings. Autologous epidural blood patching is thought to be the treatment of choice for patients with SIH.