Many people may wonder, “How are surgeons able to fix complications in the brain such as tumors and aneurysms?” A craniotomy is a procedure where the bone flap of the skull is temporarily removed to expose the brain and then replaced after surgery. A craniotomy may be performed for many reasons including clipping or reconstructing an aneurysm, extracting blood or blood clots from a leaking vessel, removing abnormal masses of arteries and veins, draining abscess, mending skull fractures, repairing a tear in the lining of the brain (the dura mater), removing damaged or swollen areas caused by traumatic injury or stroke, treating epilepsy, installing devices to treat Parkinson’s disease or dystonia, and, most commonly, diagnosing, removing, and
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A craniotomy allows more surgical procedures to be performed. Some common procedures include stereotactic biopsy, stereotactic aspiration, and endoscopic craniotomy. During a stereotactic biopsy, a needle is inserted into the brain to gather tissue from an abnormal area. The tissue is then examined under a microscope. Stereotactic aspiration is the expulsion of fluid from cysts, hematomas, or abscesses. During endoscopic craniotomy, a lighted scope with a camera is put into the brain through a small hole in the skull. Other types of craniotomy include the extended bifrontal, supra-orbital (“eyebrow”), retro-sigmoid (“keyhole”), orbitozygomatic, and translabyrinthine. The extended bifrontal craniotomy is used to approach difficult tumors near the front of the brain by temporarily removing a bone which allows surgeons to work between and right behind the eyes. It is usually used for complications like the anatomy of the tumor which don’t allow removal by a minimally invasive surgery. The supra-orbital, most commonly called the “eyebrow” craniotomy, is a minimally invasive procedure that removes brain tumors. Surgeons make a small cut in the eyebrow to reach tumors in the front of the brain. This procedure is used when a tumor is very large or very close to the optic nerves or vital arteries. The retro-sigmoid, most commonly called the “keyhole” craniotomy, is another minimally invasive surgery that is used …show more content…
Before the surgery, an IV is inserted into the arm which dispenses anesthesia into the the body. Once the patient is asleep, the head is put into a device which is attached to a table and holds the head in place. A drain is inserted into the patient’s lower back to help remove cerebrospinal fluid. Doing so allows the brain to relax during the surgery. Also, antiseptics are put onto the scalp to help prevent infection. Next, a skin incision is made, usually behind the hairline. Then, the skin and muscles are gently lifted off the skull and folded back. The neurosurgeon proceeds to drill small burr holes, holes about the size of a dime, into the skull. Next, a special saw called a craniotome cuts the bone between the holes which forms the removable bone flap. The craniotome is designed specifically so it doesn’t puncture the brain or the dura while cutting out the bone flap. After the bone flap is removed, the brain’s membrane, the dura mater, is cut with surgical scissors and folded back to expose the brain. Retractors are placed on the brain to carefully open an aisle to the section that needs to be worked on. The neurosurgeon uses magnification glasses or an operating microscope to see the nerves and vessels. As you know, the brain is packed tightly inside the skull. This means that the tissues can’t be easily moved around to repair the problems. Special tools such as
A craniotomy allows more surgical procedures to be performed. Some common procedures include stereotactic biopsy, stereotactic aspiration, and endoscopic craniotomy. During a stereotactic biopsy, a needle is inserted into the brain to gather tissue from an abnormal area. The tissue is then examined under a microscope. Stereotactic aspiration is the expulsion of fluid from cysts, hematomas, or abscesses. During endoscopic craniotomy, a lighted scope with a camera is put into the brain through a small hole in the skull. Other types of craniotomy include the extended bifrontal, supra-orbital (“eyebrow”), retro-sigmoid (“keyhole”), orbitozygomatic, and translabyrinthine. The extended bifrontal craniotomy is used to approach difficult tumors near the front of the brain by temporarily removing a bone which allows surgeons to work between and right behind the eyes. It is usually used for complications like the anatomy of the tumor which don’t allow removal by a minimally invasive surgery. The supra-orbital, most commonly called the “eyebrow” craniotomy, is a minimally invasive procedure that removes brain tumors. Surgeons make a small cut in the eyebrow to reach tumors in the front of the brain. This procedure is used when a tumor is very large or very close to the optic nerves or vital arteries. The retro-sigmoid, most commonly called the “keyhole” craniotomy, is another minimally invasive surgery that is used …show more content…
Before the surgery, an IV is inserted into the arm which dispenses anesthesia into the the body. Once the patient is asleep, the head is put into a device which is attached to a table and holds the head in place. A drain is inserted into the patient’s lower back to help remove cerebrospinal fluid. Doing so allows the brain to relax during the surgery. Also, antiseptics are put onto the scalp to help prevent infection. Next, a skin incision is made, usually behind the hairline. Then, the skin and muscles are gently lifted off the skull and folded back. The neurosurgeon proceeds to drill small burr holes, holes about the size of a dime, into the skull. Next, a special saw called a craniotome cuts the bone between the holes which forms the removable bone flap. The craniotome is designed specifically so it doesn’t puncture the brain or the dura while cutting out the bone flap. After the bone flap is removed, the brain’s membrane, the dura mater, is cut with surgical scissors and folded back to expose the brain. Retractors are placed on the brain to carefully open an aisle to the section that needs to be worked on. The neurosurgeon uses magnification glasses or an operating microscope to see the nerves and vessels. As you know, the brain is packed tightly inside the skull. This means that the tissues can’t be easily moved around to repair the problems. Special tools such as