Recent trends in decompressive craniectomy: A PubMed-based literature mapping review of surgical techniques and treatment approaches, January 2024– June 2026
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: Objective To map recent PubMed-indexed research activity related to decompressive craniectomy and describe the distribution of publications by indication, article type, and surgical or treatment-focused theme. Methods PubMed was searched on September 5, 2026 using “decompressive craniectomy” and a publication-date filter from January 1, 2024 through June 27, 2026. Two authors independently screened all records as Included, Secondary-related, or Excluded; disagreements were resolved by consensus. Inter-rater agreement was quantified with Cohen's kappa. Included records were coded by primary indication and non-mutually-exclusive themes. Results The search retrieved 789 records. Initial agreement was 602/789 (76.3%), with Cohen's kappa of 0.610; 187 disagreements were resolved by consensus. After final verification, 436 records were Included, 247 were Secondary-related, and 106 were Excluded. Included publications comprised 151 from 2024, 161 from 2025, and 124 from the partial 2026 period. The most frequent primary categories were cranioplasty or post-craniectomy reconstruction (148; 33.9%), traumatic brain injury or acute subdural hematoma (119; 27.3%), and malignant ischemic stroke (53; 12.2%). Frequent themes included reconstruction, outcomes or complications, prediction-related research, dural techniques, and surgical approach. Conclusion Recent PubMed-indexed publications demonstrate broad research activity across emergency decompression, reconstruction, complications, monitoring, prediction, and operative technique. Publication frequency should be interpreted as thematic emphasis rather than evidence of clinical-practice change or treatment effectiveness.
Source: Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery
Authors: Mustafa Özaslan, Mohammad Alomar
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,910
OpenAlex ID: W7223318643