Predicting and reducing cranioplasty infections by clinical, radiographic and operative parameters – A historical cohort study

Highlights • Cranioplasty is a common procedure that carries an abnormally high rate of infection. • The authors assessed the effect of various variables on the risk of infection. • Pre-operative degree of neurological disability was the strongest of all predictors. • Cranial trauma and autologous grafts were trends toward a higher risk for infection. • Careful patient selection is a key concept in avoiding harmful infections.