A craniotomy is surgery to open your skull to treat a problem in your brain. It can be done for many reasons. For example, you may need a craniotomy if your brain or blood vessels are damaged. Or you may need one if you have a tumor or an infection in your brain.
Part of your head may be shaved. The doctor uses special tools to make cuts (incisions) through your scalp and skull. The doctor then looks at the inside of your skull to treat the problem. The doctor closes the skull and incisions.
You may get medicine so you will be asleep during the surgery. Or you may be awake, but you will not feel pain. Sometimes a person must be awake during surgery so the doctor can test how well the brain is working.
Your doctor will help you know how long the surgery will last and what to expect. Afterward, you may stay in the hospital for a few days to a week or more. You may need a month or two to recover. Your recovery may take longer if you have weak areas of your body or have problems talking or seeing. How fully you recover depends on why you had the surgery and how well you do after your surgery.
Surgery can be stressful. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for surgery.
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A craniotomy is surgery to open your skull to treat a problem in your brain. It can be done for many reasons. For example, you may need this surgery if your brain or blood vessels are damaged or if you have a tumor or an infection in your brain.
You will probably feel very tired for several weeks after surgery. You may also have headaches or problems concentrating. It can take a month or two to recover from surgery.
Your cuts (incisions) may be sore after surgery. You may also have numbness and shooting pains near your wound. And you may have swelling and bruising around your eyes. As your wound starts to heal, it may begin to itch. Medicines and ice packs can help with headaches, pain, swelling, and itching.
The stitches or staples that hold your incisions together may go away on their own or will be removed in 7 to 10 days. This depends on the type of stitches the doctor uses.
If your head was shaved, you may want to wear hats or scarves on your head until your hair grows back.
You may need to go to a short-term rehabilitation center after you leave the hospital. This can help you learn to do the tasks you need to do after you go home.
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