What is head surgery & brain surgery?

Brain surgery is an umbrella term used to refer to various types of medical procedures that involve repairing certain structural defects of the brain. Head & brain surgery is an extremely complicated process and the procedure depends on the type of condition being treated.

Why is head surgery performed?

Whether or not to undergo an open brain surgery depends on how critical the condition of the patient is. Often, less critical diseases or abnormalities can pose a serious life risk because of its side-effects. In such cases, the head operation needs to be performed to correct the physical deformities of the brain and the surrounding structures.

Types of head surgery:

Depending on the part of the brain and the condition being treated, there can be several types of head surgery. Let us discuss the different head operation procedures that are performed by trained surgeons.

Craniotomy

A craniotomy is one of the most common procedures of brain surgery. In this case, doctors perform a skull surgery by making an incision on the skull near the affected area of the brain. This creates a hole in the skull called the bone flap. A craniotomy is done in the following cases:

Removal of brain tumors
Snipping off a brain aneurysm
Drain accumulated blood and fluid from a brain infection
Removal of defective brain tissues
After the procedure is done, the bone flap is closed with the help of wires, sutures or plates.

Craniectomy

Similar to a craniotomy, this type of brain surgery may be done in conditions of brain tumors, swelling or infections. In this case, the bone flap is left open.

Biopsy

A small incision or hole in the skull is created to remove a small amount of brain tissue from the defective area in order to study it better under the microscope.

Endonasal Endoscopic Surgery

One of the minimally invasive types of head surgery involves the insertion of an endoscope – a telescopic device fitted with lights and a camera through the nose and sinuses. This process does not require any incision to be made. Endoscopic Surgery is performed to remove tumors from the pituitary gland and the base of the skull.

Neuroendoscopy

A type of skull surgery, the surgeon makes small holes in the skull to reach to the defective parts of the brain, mainly to remove tumors.

Deep Brain Stimulation

This head operation procedure involves making incisions or a small hole at the skull to insert a small electrode inside the brain. This device is connected to a battery in the chest that sends electrical signals to the brain. Deep brain stimulation is done in patients who show symptoms of brain disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.

Conditions that require head surgery:

The following conditions in and around the head may demand brain surgery:

Presence of a brain tumor
Hemorrhage – Bleeding in the brain
Hematomas – Blood clots in the brain
Brain aneurysm – Weakness in blood vessels
Arteriovenous malformations – Abnormal blood vessels
Brain abscesses – Infections in the brain
Hydrocephalus – Swelling of the brain
Damage to the protective tissue (dura) covering the brain
Brain diseases that require the implantation of an electronic device
Post-injury or stroke pressure in the brain
Nerve damage or irritation
Skull fracture
Epilepsy

Risks involved in the procedure:

Head surgery is one of the most critical medical procedures and hence, there are many risks, mild to life-threatening that come along with it. Some of them are:
Bleeding
Impairment of speech, vision, and balance
Infection in and around the wounded site
Swelling of the brain
Memory loss
Seizures
Brain Stroke
Coma Outlook and Prognosis:

How well patients do after the head operation depends on the types of head surgery performed and the general health of the patient. Most of the patients who have undergone skull surgery nowadays will be back to their work within 10-12 days in the same way patients undergoing major surgeries may take 2-4 weeks for recovery and patients might suffer from headaches or have problems concentrating. Some of them may also require physical therapy or rehabilitation.

What is head surgery & brain surgery?

Why is head surgery performed?

Types of head surgery:

Craniotomy

Craniectomy

Biopsy

Endonasal Endoscopic Surgery

Neuroendoscopy

Deep Brain Stimulation

Risks involved in the procedure:

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours does a head/brain surgery take?

What is the recovery period of brain surgery?