What is trepanation used for?

Trepanation is a treatment used for epidural and subdural hematomas, and surgical access for certain other neurosurgical procedures, such as intracranial pressure monitoring. Modern surgeons generally use the term craniotomy for this procedure.

What is the difference between trepanation and trephination?

Trephination is the surgical procedure in which a hole is created in the skull by the removal of circular piece of bone, while a trepanation is the opening created by this procedure (Stone and Miles, 1990).

Can you drill a hole in your head and survive?

“Physical damage to one part may be fatal, but in another it may have very little effect.” Rose adds: “If the lower regions of the brain or spinal cord are damaged – regions that control heart rate, breathing etc – the consequences are likely to be fatal.

Do holes in the skull heal?

Patients suffering head injuries and in need of surgical repair for skull fractures usually receive what is called a “burr hole,” a hole drilled into the skull to relieve pressure and prevent hemorrhage. After the initial danger has passed, they have few options to repair the burr hole and heal any other fractures.

What is the difference between lobotomy and trepanation?

Trepanation is also used for surgical access to help relieve intracranial pressure. Lobotomy is another surgical treatment that involves drilling a hole in a person’s skull.

Can you survive trepanning?

As a tendency, the survival rate appears to be relatively high from the Neolithic to Late Antiquity but then decreases until Pre-Modern times. The 78% survival rate in Late Iron Age Switzerland indicates that the surgery was often performed successfully.

Do skulls have ear holes?

External acoustic meatus (ear canal)—This is the large opening on the lateral side of the skull that is associated with the ear. Internal acoustic meatus—This opening is located inside the cranial cavity, on the medial side of the petrous ridge. It connects to the middle and inner ear cavities of the temporal bone.