What is a bone flap?
Craniotomy is a surgery to cut a bony opening in the skull. A section of the skull, called a bone flap, is removed to access the brain underneath. A craniotomy may be small or large depending on the problem.
What is bone flap replacement surgery?
A craniotomy is the surgical removal of part of the bone from the skull to expose the brain. Specialized tools are used to remove the section of bone called the bone flap. The bone flap is temporarily removed, then replaced after the brain surgery has been done.
How do they put a bone flap back in?
The surgeon uses special tools to remove the section of bone (the bone flap ). After the brain surgery, the surgeon replaces the bone flap and attaches it to the surrounding bone with small titanium plates and screws.
How long does it take for a bone flap to heal?
After a craniotomy, the bone flap will mend itself over time and partially heal back into the rest of the skull bone within 2 to 3 months. Full recovery can take a few months and depends on the underlying condition that was treated.
Does bone flap heal?
The bone flap is not loose: it is secured when it is replaced and will heal back into place. Headaches are common and might last for several months before they gradually settle down.
How serious is a craniectomy?
The major risks of the operation are bleeding and infection and further damage to the brain. As previously stated, patients who require craniectomy as a life saving measure are usually in very critical condition and have in all likelihood already experienced some amount of brain damage.
What is sunken flap syndrome?
The syndrome of the “trephined” or the “sinking skin flap” (SSF) syndrome is a rare complication after a large skull bone defect. 1. It consists of a sunken skin above the bone defect with neurological symptoms such as severe headaches, mental changes, focal deficits, or seizures.
Can you live without a piece of skull?
“You can live without bone covering your brain, but it’s dangerous,” Redett says. “If you look at photos of him preoperatively, you can see that he was pretty sunken in and had a sizeable indentation from the top of his head down.”
Is a craniotomy a serious surgery yes or no?
A craniotomy is a brain surgery that involves the temporary removal of bone from the skull to make repairs in the brain. It is highly intensive and comes with certain risks, which make it a serious surgery.