Spontaneous cranial bone regeneration following craniectomy for traumatic brain injury in a pregnant woman: A case report

Spontaneous bone formation following craniectomy is an extremely rare in adult. As in the medical literature, this is the first case report on total spontaneous ossification following craniectomy in a pregnant woman. In this paper, we reported a 20-year-old female currently in the 30th week of her pregnancy suffered from head trauma following motorcycle accident. On admission to our hospital, her GCS score was 3 points. She was treated with emergency extradural hematoma evacuation with craniectomy and Caesarean section with uterine artery ligation. 3 weeks post-operation, the patient and her daughter were discharged from the hospital. At follow-up, spontaneous cranial bone generation was observed. The presentation, diagnosis and strategy of treatments were discussed. Diagnostic imaging in traumatic pregnant patient is often postponed for the concern of fetus exposure to radiation. Traumatic pregnant patient with possible head trauma should be transferred to a center with expertise in neurotrauma and obstetrical care. Spontaneous cranial bone regeneration following craniectomy in adult is rare. Surgery techniques and hormones in pregnancy contribute to bone formation. •Diagnostic imaging in traumatic pregnant patient is often postponed for the concern of fetus exposure to radiation.•Pregnant woman with brain trauma should be transferred to a center with expertise in neurotrauma and obstetrical care.•Spontaneous cranial bone regeneration following craniectomy in adult is rare.•Surgery techniques and hormonal changes in pregnancy may contribute to this phenomenon.•In case of extensive spontaneous bone regeneration, cranioplasty is unnecessary.