Craniotomies
Overview:
Craniotomy is the term that describes any operation on the head where a bone flap of the skull is temporarily removed to give access to a part of the brain for surgery.
Reasons for surgery include treatment and removal of brain tumours, to remove a haematoma (blood clot), the treatment of various causes of brain haemorrhage - especially aneurysms (small areas of weakness on the blood vessels), to repair arteriovenous malformations (abnormal connections of blood vessels), to drain a brain abscess, to relieve pressure inside the skull, to perform a biopsy, or to inspect the brain. It also allows Doctors to surgically implant deep brain stimulators for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and cerebellar tremor.
How the procedure is performed:
Either an incision is made at the nape of the neck around the bone at the back (occipital bone) or a curving incision is made in front of the ear that arches above the eye. During skin incision the surgeon must seal off many small blood vessels because the scalp has a rich blood supply.
The scalp tissue is then folded back to expose the bone. Using a high-speed drill, the surgeon drills a pattern of holes through the skull and uses a fine wire saw to connect the holes until a segment of bone can be removed.
After removal of the internal brain lesion or other procedure is completed, the bone is replaced and secured into position with soft wire. Membranes, muscle, and skin are sutured into position. If the lesion is an aneurysm, the affected artery is sealed at the leak. If there is a tumor, as much of it as possible is removed.
