Craniotomy is a neurosurgical operation in which a bone flap is temporarily removed from the skull to access the intracranial space. Craniotomies are often critical operations performed for a range of conditions, including tumors, hemorrhages, and removal of foreign bodies such as bullets.
Craniotomy is distinguished from craniectomy (in which the skull flap is not immediately replaced, allowing the brain to swell, thus reducing intracranial pressure) and from trepanation, the creation of a burr hole through the cranium into the dura mater.
Indications
Craniotomy is performed for a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Its function is to provide temporary surgical access to the intracranial space.
Human craniotomy is usually performed under general anesthesia but can be also done with the patient awake using a local anesthetic.[1] With adequate anesthesia and pain control, the procedure does not typically involve significant discomfort for the patient. In general, craniotomy is preceded by an MRI or CT scan of the head which provides a cross-sectional image that the surgeon uses to plan the location for bone removal and angle of access. The amount of skull that needs to be removed depends on the surgery being performed. After incision of the skin and dissection of the tissues of the scalp, the bone flap is removed with a cranial drill. At the conclusion of the procedure, the bone flap is replaced using titanium plates and screws or another form of fixation. In the event the host bone does not accept its replacement, an artificial piece of skull, often made of PEEK, is substituted. The PEEK flap is typically modeled by a CNC machine capable of accepting a high resolution MRI computer file in order to provide a close fit, in an effort to minimize fitment issues, and therefore minimizing the duration of the cranial surgery.[5]
Approaches
An illustration of the supratentorial and infratentorial regions of the brain.
Craniotomies are classified by the region of the skull that is opened to access the intracranial space[6]. Different anatomic approaches provide access to specific intracranial regions, and the selected approach depends on the location of the pathology and surrounding nerves and blood vessels. Each approach is defined by characteristic anatomic landmarks. Though not all craniotomies utilize an established approach, most follow standardized openings that offer consistent and reliable surgical exposure. More than one approach may be appropriate for a given pathology, and the choice may vary across surgeons and institutions.
Pterional[2]: Approach to the Sylvian fissure and parasellar region, often used for anterior circulation aneurysms, skull base tumors, or sphenoid wing lesions.
Suboccipital: Approach to the midline posterior fossa, often used for cerebellar tumors, Chiari malformation decompression, or brainstem lesions.
Complications
Complications can occur following craniotomy. The incidence and severity of these complications depend on patient factors, the nature of the surgery, surgical technique, and the underlying condition being treated.
Meningitis and infection
Meningitis occurs in about 0.8 to 1.5% of individuals undergoing craniotomy.[7] Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis may be used to prevent meningitis in craniotomy patients.[8]
According to the Journal of Neurosurgery, clinical studies indicated that "the risk for meningitis was independently associated with perioperative steroid use and ventricular drainage".[9] In a series of 334 procedures, their results showed that traumatic brain injuries were the predominant cause of bacterial meningitis. Nearly 40% of patients developed one or more infections.
Cerebrospinal fluid shunt (CSF) associates with the risk of meningitis due to the following factors: pre-shunt associated infections, post-operative CSF leakage, lack of experience from the neurosurgeon, premature birth/young age, advanced age, shunt revisions for dysfunction, and neuroendoscopes. The way shunts are operated on each patient relies heavily on the cleanliness of the site. Once bacteria penetrates the area of a CSF, the procedure becomes more complicated.
The skin is especially necessary to address because it is an external organ. Scratching the incision site can easily create an infection due to there being no barrier between the open air and wound. Aside from scratching, decubitus ulcer and tissues near the shunt site are also leading pathways for infection susceptibility.[10]
Hemorrhage
Hemorrhage following craniotomy can result from a failure to achieve hemostasis during surgery or from damage to blood vessels. Systematic reviews show that the incidence of clinically significant hematomas requiring surgical evacuation is low (around 1–2%) but varies depending on definitions and patient populations.[11]
Neurologic deficit
Neurologic deficits can occur after craniotomy due to damage to eloquent regions of the brain or cranial nerves. A 2025 meta-analysis by Conway et al. combined data from 67 studies of glioma resections (2,616 patients) and found that approximately 32% of patients developed new motor deficits. About 14% developed permanent deficits and 18% developed transient deficits. The risk of neurologic deficit varies by anatomic location of craniotomy and the nature of the surgery being performed.[12]
Cerebrospinal fluid leak
Cerebrospinal fluid leak can occur after craniotomy due to failure to create a watertight closure during dural closure or duraplasty. Systematic reviews report postoperative CSF leak rates around 1–10% in cranial surgeries.[13]
Seizure
Seizure can occur intra- or post-operatively due to irritation of the cerebral cortex, which may cause abnormal electrical firing. Intra-operatively, seizure may be controlled by titrating the dosage of anesthetic agents or by administering antiepileptic drugs. It is also common to give patients anti-seizure medications for seven days post-operatively to prevent seizure. Traditionally this has been phenytoin, but now is increasingly levetiracetam as it has a lower risk of drug-drug interactions.[14][15]
Post-operative pain
Post-craniotomy pain is common and moderate to severe in nature. This pain can be controlled through the use of scalp infiltrations, nerve scalp blocks, parecoxib, and morphine, morphine being the most effective in providing analgesia.[16]
↑ Szaflarski, J. P; K. S Sangha; C. J Lindsell; L. A Shutter (2010). "Prospective, randomized, single-blinded comparative trial of intravenous levetiracetam versus phenytoin for seizure prophylaxis". Neurocritical Care. 12 (2): 165–172. doi:10.1007/s12028-009-9304-y. PMID19898966. S2CID207368104.
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