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Background:In cranial reconstruction, the features of artificial bone differ. Custom-made porous hydroxyapatite (HAp) implants for cranioplasty have been used all over the world because of their good cosmetic, biocompatibility, and osteoconductive properties. Surgical techniques were analyzed, and histological assessment of new bone formation in the hydroxyapatite was performed.Methods:Over a 6-year time period, 41 patients underwent cranioplasty using a custom-made three-dimensional hybrid pore structured hydroxyapatite (3DHPoHAp) implant. The surgical techniques and histological evaluations of 3DHPoHAp in 2 cases, removed 6 months and 2.5 years after cranioplasty, are described.Results:Using 3DHPoHAp, cranioplasty was successfully performed for all patients. The implant fit the bone defect exactly, and surgical manoeuvres were simple and easy. All implants were firmly fixed using a titanium plate, and postoperative infection occurred in 1 patient (2.4%). New bone formation was seen in 2 cases 6 months and 2.5 years after cranioplasty. Osteoblasts were progressing to the stoma at various depths, and bone tissue had ripened. Furthermore, lamellar structure was observed in the case at 2.5 years.Conclusions:In this study, there was a low infection rate, and new bone formation was seen in vivo after cranioplasty. This study also demonstrated that the 3DHPoHAp implant is a good candidate for cranial bone implants because its good osteoconductivity and biocompatibility.

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Background & aims: Dysphagia is a common sequela following stroke. Patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) often develop atrophy of the temporal muscle, but its clinical significance remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether temporal muscle volume (TMV) is related to subsequent oral intake in patients with SAH and evaluate the predictors of temporal muscle atrophy. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 60 SAH patients receiving enteral nutrition in the acute hospitalization phase at a single center between 2009 and 2019. The TMV was segmented automatically from computed tomography images and measured on admission and at week 2. Patients with a !20% TMV reduction were assigned to the atrophy group (n ¼ 24) and those with a <20% TMV reduction were included in the maintenance group (n ¼ 36). The patients' oral intake status was assessed at week 2 using the Food Intake LEVEL Scale (grade of 7e9 considered good ingestion), and the modified Rankin scale (mRS) was used at discharge (grade of 0e2 considered good prognosis). Additional data on age, sex, body mass index, severity of SAH, and protein intake were collected on day 4. Results: The maintenance group had significantly better oral intake and mRS scores compared to the atrophy group. TMV maintenance significantly affected oral intake at week 2 and the mRS score at discharge. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that protein intake on day 4 significantly influenced the maintenance of TMV. Conclusions: High protein nutrition in the acute stage of SAH contributes to temporal muscle maintenance and improves oral intake.