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Medical Forum / General / General / February 2006Trepanation
Now that should be a topic to stir up some creative comments in this forum, eh!? <Grin> Actually, I've just started researching the subject; I was inspired to after a buddy inquired about the Temporal Lobe surgery I underwent two years ago (there was a small benign tumor removed from my brain). In short, the surgery was a success, but it would appear that I was left with a small indent where (I presume) the saw first started cutting through the skull. I'm not certain if there is now any bone in that area, or just other tissue (durra, scalp, etc.)? But the fact that there is obviously a small quazi-circular part of the skull missing, leads me to ask: Am I currently in a similar state as someone who had underwent a Trepanation? I don't recall if my surgeon commented on the skull's recovery, nor do I have access to any of the MRI's taken post-surgery. Anyway, I'm not itching for an answer on the subject; mainly just curious, that's all. I'll keep an eye on the forum for the next little bit to see what type of input is fed-back. Oh, and f.w.i.w. one of the sites I've just started surfing is: www.trepan.com. Looking forward to the feedback. Cheers! Paul > Now that should be a topic to stir up some creative comments in this > forum, eh!? <Grin> [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > Paul Seems to me that postop instructions must have been given, including special precautions regarding protecting the area. I use to know a guy who'd had brain surgery (I don't remember if it was to remove a tumor, relieve pressure from intracranial hemorrhage, or what) but he was left with a very large and visible defect in the anterior temporal region. It didn't seem to bother him though, and he lived many years afterward. I actually don't know if these surgical defects are generally grafted, covered by a metal plate etc. but I assume the brain must be protected from trauma. As for whether you are in the same "state" as someone who's had a trepanation, that may depend upon whether all the evil spirits were excised. ;-) Steve >Now that should be a topic to stir up some creative comments in this >forum, eh!? <Grin> [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > >Paul If you are older than about 15 (and I suspect that you are), what you are most likely feeling is some scar tissue at the site of the original "burr hole" which was made to start the performance of the "craniotomy" which was done to remove your tumor. In children, this small opening may get covered with re-growth of bone, but, in adults, it usually fills in with scar tissue which, although it is not true bone, is pretty firm. Such burr holes are rarely larger than the size of a U. S. dime. If the area is larger, or if there is concern about cosmetic aspects, it is possible to "fill in" the hole using acrylic or some such other prosthetic device (called a "cranioplasty"), but this would involve complete re-opening of the original incision and another period of recovery. And sometimes, the cranioplasty does not "take", requiring yet more surgery. In general, if the area is no larger than a burr hole, it is usually left alone. Speak to your neurosurgeon. Best, Bob Robert A. Fink, M. D. Neurological Surgery 2500 Milvia Street Suite 222 Berkeley, CA 94704-2636 USA 510-849-2555 ********************************** NOTE: The material above is not "medical advice". Medical advice can only be given after an in-person contact between doctor and patient. ********************************** >>Now that should be a topic to stir up some creative comments in this >>forum, eh!? <Grin> [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] > > Bob I'm not surpised to hear that openings the size of a dime would be left alone. I'm a little surprised to hear that surgery is rather routinely done through such small craniotomies. I assume modern imaging practices have done a lot to eliminate the old "steel plates". Thanks for the info. Steve > Robert A. Fink, M. D. > Neurological Surgery [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > doctor and patient. > ********************************** Dr. Bob, Thanks for taking the time to shed some light on the subject. You are correct with your assumption, the "burr hole/indent" is quite tiny - smaller then a US/CND dime for sure, but still larger then the diameter of a BIC pen. Also, no pain is felt when I press into the indent (or when most new hair stylus's bump into it with their clippers); so perhaps there is bone or some other foreign substance there? It's been 2 years since my surgery and I last spoke with my Neurosurgeon 3 months ago but don't recall raising the topic with either him or his team. At the end of the day it appears that indents like this are common enough after surgeries of the sort; and that Trepanation wasn't a byproduct of the craniotomy. Thanks again for clearing up this question. Cheers! Paul |
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