title: A small modification to a decompressive craniotomy to improve the brain-cranium interface: technical note.
abstract: One underlying aspect of a decompressive craniotomy is the brain-cranium interface. Due to the high pressure, the brain has the tendency to mushroom and squeeze the brain tissue at the bony edges of the craniotomy. A small modification to the decompressive craniotomy is described. The inner tabula and part of the diploe are drilled away using a high-speed drill (using either a sharp or a diamond drill) prior to opening the dura while during drilling, the dura is protected with a spatula.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kools
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Menovsky
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ost
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Ridder
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012886:Skull / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery