How do neurosurgeons cut the brain?

You usually have a craniotomy under a general anaesthetic. This means that you will be asleep and won’t feel anything. During a craniotomy, the neurosurgeon cuts out an area of bone from your skull. This gives an opening so that they can operate on the brain.

How is the skull cut open?

A medical drill may be used to make burr holes in the skull. A special saw may be used to carefully cut the bone. The bone flap will be removed and saved. The dura mater (the thick outer covering of the brain directly underneath the bone) will be separated from the bone and carefully cut open to expose the brain.

How do surgeons access brains?

This minimally invasive technique involves threading a thin tube called an endoscope through the mouth, nose, or small incisions in the skull to access or remove brain tissue. The endoscope has a light and camera on the end, and the surgery is performed with tools placed through the endoscope.

How hard is it to cut through skull?

Unlike most bones in your body, your skull doesn’t have bone marrow. This makes the skull very strong and difficult to break. A broken skull is unable to absorb the impact of a blow, making it more likely that there’ll also be damage to your brain.

How do neurosurgeons open your skull?

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.

Does awake brain surgery hurt?

Awake brain surgery is possible because there are no pain receptors in the brain itself. Your scalp will be anesthetized, so you will not feel the operation or any pain. Read more about awake brain mapping (also called intraoperative mapping).

Do they put your skull back after brain surgery?

Traditionally, surgeons have peeled the scalp off the brain to then tuck the skull bone or custom implant back into place, a practice which puts the patient at risk of bleeding, seizure, stroke and infection. In some cases, the replaced bone or implant must again be removed.