Craniotomy
- Home
- Craniotomy
Pre- and post-surgery MRI showing a frontal lobe metastatic tumor removed via craniotomy.
Craniotomy
Craniotomy is a common neurosurgical procedure where a window of bone is removed from the skull to provide access to the brain and surrounding structures. Craniotomy is commonly performed for a variety of procedures, such as to remove a tumor, to remove a blood clot, or to repair a fracture. It can be done on any part of the skull.
When the main goals of surgery are done, the window of bone is affixed back to the skull with tiny metal plates and screws, and the overlying scalp is closed. Over time, the bone will regrow and reattach to the surrounding skull. Sometimes, the bone is left off temporarily – this is called a craniectomy. In some cases, such as decompression of a Chiari malformation, the bone is left off altogether and does not need to be replaced.