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A craniotomy involves temporarily removing part of your skull to operate on your brain
A craniotomy may be needed for a number of reasons, including to make or confirm a diagnosis of a brain condition, to remove or treat a brain tumour, to clip or repair an aneurysm, or to remove blood or blood clots from the brain.
During the operation, a part of the skull (called a bone flap), or cranium is removed to give access to the brain. Once the surgery is done, the bone is replaced and is expected to mend, like any other bone.
At Circle Health Group, we work with leading experts in the field of brain surgery. Our experienced specialists can help to diagnose, treat and manage a wide variety of brain conditions. If you need a craniotomy, our consultant neurosurgeons are here for you.
To find out more, give us a call or book online today.
These conditions might occur naturally, or they might happen as the result of a head injury.
This is a very important appointment as it is where we get to know you and where you first meet your consultant surgeon. They will ask you lots of questions about your symptoms, your medical history, any treatment you have had up to this point, and what you are hoping to get out of your treatment with us. If you have any questions at all, your consultant is there to answer them.
You might be sent to have various tests, including MRI or CT scans, which help your consultant to reach a diagnosis. Once they are happy with their diagnosis, they'll put together a treatment plan based on your personal circumstances.
If a craniotomy is deemed the most effective treatment for your condition, your consultant neurosurgeon will arrange a pre-operative appointment to prepare you for the surgery, explain the risks and benefits of the operation and explain what to expect once you have been admitted to one of our Circle Health Group hospitals.
Your consultant neurosurgeon may also request some tests are carried out ahead of your surgery. This may include:
Still, the basics of a craniotomy will remain the same for everyone. A portion of your skull will be removed to give your surgeon access to your brain. Once the operation has been performed, the portion of your skull will be replaced.
There are a number of different procedures Circle Health can perform utilising craniotomy including:
There are other even more advanced procedures that craniotomy (brain surgery) can be used for too, such as deep brain stimulation for conditions including Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and cerebral tremors.
Craniotomy is the name of the opening for most intracranial neurosurgical procedures. A craniotomy can also refer to a small opening advanced by the new minimally invasive approaches.
We will need to shave a small section of your head before your operation, which will correspond to the size and location of the incision your surgeon will make into your cranium. We normally try and make the incision somewhere under your hair so that it grows back to cover the scar.
Your consultant neurosurgeon will begin by making an incision into your skull and creating an opening, through which they can access your brain. They will then proceed to perform the operations needed to treat your condition, for example treating damage to your brain or removing abnormal tissue, before replacing the bone that has been removed.
Depending on the type of craniotomy you have, your brain surgery could take anywhere from three to seven hours.
Your consultant will be able to give you a more detailed and accurate timeline based on you as an individual. The below is just a guide to give you a rough idea.
Once your surgery is complete, you will be taken to the recovery area of the theatre, where nursing staff will monitor your vitals. Due to the complexity of the surgery, some patients are first taken to the intensive care unit (ICU) where specialist nurses can closely monitor your recovery. After a day or two, you will be discharged to the wards.
Your nurses (either on the ward or in the ICU) will encourage you to move your arms and legs whilst you are in bed to keep your muscles active and to avoid blood clots from forming. Once it is safe to do so, the nursing team will you get out of bed and encourage you to start moving again.
You can usually wash your hair about two or three days after the operation. Your care team will let you know.
Once your neurosurgeon deems it safe to do so, you will be discharged, where you can continue to make your recovery at home. A typical hospital stay is between five and ten days.
When you're ready to go home, you will need to arrange for a friend or loved one to drive you, as you are not fit to drive for some time after a craniotomy. The safe time to return to driving will be different for everyone and you should speak to the DVLA directly.
You should also avoid flying, contact sports, and drinking more than a small amount of alcohol until your consultant advises you otherwise.
Returning to work is another thing you should discuss with your surgeon directly. Recovery is different for everyone. Look after yourself and don't rush it.
The length of a recovery depends on many factors, including the complexity of the surgery, any possible complications and whether any additional treatment is required after surgery (such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy).
The bone flap will mend over time. Within a few months, you can expect it to heal back into the rest of the skull bone.
You can expect a full recovery to take a few months, however this varies significantly, depending on which underlying condition is being treated.
Your consultant neurosurgeon will talk you through the likelihood of all these complications ahead of time, so that you feel informed and comfortable before you have the operation.
If you have private health insurance, the cost of a craniotomy and any other brain treatment will usually be covered by your provider.
If you want to pay for your own treatment, give us a call and one of our friendly advisors will be able to give you a guide price. We offer fixed-price packages for our self-paying customers, so you'll know exactly what you will pay ahead of time.
You can also choose to spread the cost of your treatment over a period of one to five years, using our flexible payment options.
If you have been told you need a craniotomy or would like to get the advice of a brain specialist, call us or book online today and we'll help you find the best treatment for you, fast.