Reconstructing After Trauma - Cranioplasty in Munich for Patient from Kosovo
After a serious head injury, the emergency surgery is only the beginning. The next step is often reconstruction, restoring brain protection and helping a patient feel like themselves again. When part of the skull has been removed during lifesaving neurosurgical care, patients may later struggle with discomfort, visible asymmetry, and the sense that recovery is incomplete.
That’s why our patient, Elza from Kosovo, began searching for cranioplasty options outside her her homecountry. She needed a team with deep experience in cranial reconstruction and precise planning.
Check Elza’s story: how she reached Munich for surgical repair of a skull bone defect after trauma, and what the journey looked like from distant planning to treatment.
The Day Everything Changed in Prishtina
On January 18, 2024, Ms. Elza was simply on her way to work when a piece of the roof from the Prishtina Municipality building collapsed during strong winds and struck her head.[1][2][3][4] In her own recollection, the moment felt surreal: a sudden noise, a flash of light, and then darkness as she fought to stay conscious while bleeding and being rushed by ambulance to emergency care.[2]
What followed was critical. Elza described falling into a coma, which required immediate life-saving surgery on her head. Later on, complications arose, including an infection that necessitated another operation. This second surgery involved the removal of both infected tissue and a portion of her skull, resulting in a cranial defect that would eventually need reconstruction.[5][6]
Clinically, her case was documented as a head injury with subsequent neurosurgical management, including decompressive craniectomy, and the resulting diagnosis: cranial defect.
Planning the Reconstruction in Munich Before Traveling
Once Elza was stable enough to look beyond emergency recovery and toward reconstruction, the goal shifted from “survive” to “restore.” Through Airomedical, her case was prepared for evaluation at University Hospital Rechts der Isar in Munich under the care of Prof. Dr. med. Bernhard Meyer, a leading neurosurgeon and professor at the Technical University of Munich.
To plan precisely without unnecessary travel, Elza performed a thin-slice, navigable cranial CT (0.6 mm slices) locally and transmitted the images digitally to Munich via Airomedical. This level of detail is essential for modern cranioplasty planning, as it enables the surgical team to design an implant that accurately matches the skull's anatomy.
The CAD Implant and the Wait that Mattered
After the CT data was reviewed, the clinic initiated production of a patient-specific CAD implant, engineered to fit Elza’s cranial defect based on her scan. This step required patience. The patient waited about three weeks while the implant was manufactured to specification before scheduling travel.
That waiting period wasn’t just “dead time”; it contributed to building a safer, more predictable surgical plan. With the implant prepared in advance, the focus in Munich could remain where it belongs: meticulous reconstruction rather than last-minute logistics.
Surgery in Munich with Prof. Bernhard Meyer
Elza traveled to Munich for her operation only after the implant was ready. Her cranioplasty was performed by Prof. Dr. med. Bernhard Meyer from Germany. This procedure marked the completion of her transition from urgent trauma care to planned reconstruction, aimed at restoring both protection and symmetry after months of recovery.
Elza's medical travel journey extended beyond just the surgery. After a while, she returned to Munich for a follow-up appointment, again organized by Airomedical. This visit was to assess her healing progress, confirm the implant's position, evaluate her overall condition, and ensure that her recovery was on track.
References:
- Ballkani.info. (2024, February 6). E konfirmon QKUK: Gjendja e 23-vjeçares që u godit nga kulmi është përmirësuar.
- Ora Info. (2024, March 25). Elza Ujkani leaves the hospital - recounts the moment when the peak fell on her head and the difficult days of recovery.
- Reporteri.net. Elza Ujkan's epic comment in the announcement of the municipality of Prishtina about the strong winds.
- Insajderi.org. (2024, March 25). Elza Ujkani confesses after being hit by the roof of the municipality of Pristina: I was going to work like any other day.
- Telegrafi.com. (2024, March 25). The roof of the Municipality of Prishtina took her, Elza Ujkani after leaving the hospital, an emotional confession comes.
- Periskopi.com. Good news: the condition of the 23-year-old woman who was injured by the collapse of the Pristina municipality roof is improving.