What is Pterional craniotomy?
What is Pterional craniotomy?
The pterional craniotomy is a unique approach that provides wide access to the skull base. It is named after the pterion, the junction point of 4 bones within the skull (frontal, temporal, greater wing of sphenoid, parietal) and is considered a fundamental tool in the armamentarium of the neurosurgeon.
What is a frontotemporal craniotomy?
A pteronial craniotomy, or frontotemporal craniotomy, involves removing part of the pterion. Your surgeon makes an incision behind your hairline, letting them access numerous parts of the brain.
How do you get a pterional craniotomy?
Procedure summary
- Patient preparation.
- Skin incision.
- Scalp dissection.
- Temporalis muscle incision.
- Retraction of scalp/temporalis flaps.
- Drilling of keyhole burrhole.
- Craniotomy and bone flap removal.
- Drilling of sphenoid wing.
Where is pterional?
The pterion is the region where the frontal, parietal, temporal, and sphenoid bones join. It is located on the side of the skull, just behind the temple.
How many types of craniotomy are there?
Figure 1. Craniotomies are often named for the bone being removed. Some common craniotomies include frontotemporal, parietal, temporal, and suboccipital. Craniotomies vary in size and complexity.
What is the difference between craniotomy and craniectomy?
A Craniectomy is similar to a craniotomy as both procedures involve removing a portion of the skull, the difference is that after a craniotomy the bone is replaced and after a craniectomy the bone is not immediately replaced.
How is a Cranioplasty performed?
There are different kinds of cranioplasties, but most involve lifting the scalp and restoring the contour of the skull with the original skull piece or a custom contoured graft made from material such as: Titanium (plate or mesh). Synthetic bone substitute (in liquid form).
How long does it take for the skull to heal after brain surgery?
It can take 4 to 8 weeks to recover from surgery. Your cuts (incisions) may be sore for about 5 days after surgery. Your scalp may swell with fluid. You may also have numbness and shooting pains near your wound.
What is the purpose of craniotomy?
A craniotomy may be done so doctors can remove a brain tumor or abnormal brain tissue. It may also be done to remove blood or blood clots from the brain, relieve pressure in the brain after an injury or stroke, repair a brain aneurysm (a bulge in a blood vessel wall) or skull fractures, or treat other brain conditions.