Overview

A craniotomy is a brain surgery that involves taking out a piece of the skull, called a bone flap, to get to the brain. It is done to treat a number of neurological disorders, including brain tumours, aneurysms, traumatic brain injury, bleeding (hematoma), infections, or epilepsy. After the necessary treatment is completed, the bone flap is usually moved to a new location and secured with plates or screws. There are different kinds of craniotomy, such as awake craniotomy, decompressive craniectomy, and keyhole craniotomy. The type of craniotomy depends on where it is done and why. The procedure allows you to visualize and treat brain structures directly, and it is performed under highly controlled conditions.

Why It's Done
A craniotomy is done to get to and treat serious brain conditions that can't be treated with medicine alone. You might need to remove tumours, clip aneurysms, relieve pressure from swelling or bleeding, fix blood vessel problems, or treat serious head injuries. In some cases, it is done to get a brain biopsy to help with diagnosis. The goal is to treat conditions that could kill you or make you unable to function while keeping as much healthy brain tissue as possible.

What to Expect?
Before surgery, patients undergo detailed imaging tests, such as MRIs or CT scans, to precisely identify the problem. The surgical team discusses possible risks and outcomes after blood tests and neurological evaluations. Most of the time, general anaesthesia is given during the procedure. However, in some cases, such as awake craniotomy, the patient needs to be awake so their function can be monitored. The surgeon cuts into the scalp and carefully takes off a piece of the skull to get to the brain. The treatment is performed using specialized tools and microscopes. The bone flap is replaced and secured after the procedure. After that, sutures or staples are used to close the scalp. After the surgery, the patient is closely watched in an intensive care unit. We closely monitor neurological status, blood pressure, and any signs of swelling or bleeding. Follow-up imaging may be done to check the results.

Recovery & Outlook
How long it takes to recover depends on the underlying condition and the complexity of the surgery. Rehabilitation therapy might be necessary to help you speak, move, or coordinate again. Once the underlying problem is fixed, many patients feel much better. The long-term outlook depends on the initial diagnosis and the person's overall health.