Objective  To investigate the clinical effect of repairing skull defect with frozen skull flap at extremely low temperature.

  Methods  According to the cranial repair time interval after decompressive craniotomy, 40 patients with skull defect were divided into early group and late group, with 20 cases in each group. Cranial flap repair was performed within 12 weeks after decompression in the early group, and after 12 weeks after decompression in the late group. The clinical efficacy, daily living ability, prognosis and incidence of complications were compared between the two groups.

  Results  The total effective rate in the early group was significantly higher, and the total complication rate was significantly lower than that in the late group (P < 0.05). Barthel index (BI) score and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score in the early group after surgery were significantly higher than those in the late group (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  Early implementation of frozen skull flap repair at extremely low temperature for patients with skull defect is beneficial to improve the therapeutic effect, restore the ability of daily living, reduce the incidence of complications, improve the prognosis, and have good safety.