Can't remember the types of craniotomies off the top of your head?
Do you need another thing to memorize like you need a hole in your head?
Here's a quick figure with a review of some common craniotomies to help you out!
Let’s dig deeper into these holes!
Frontal: For large midline anterior and sometimes middle skull base lesions
Temporal: For middle cranial fossa lesions, including intra-axial lesions in the mesial temporal lobe
Parietal: For mid to posterior cerebral hemisphere lesions while sparing the motor and sensory cortices.
Parietal interhemispheric approach for parafalcine, medial parietal, and splenial lesions. Parietal transcortical route for intra-axial lesions through the functionally “silent” superior parietal lobule
Pterional (frontotemporal): Access to the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, and Sylvian fissure and allow for direct visualization of the microvasculature surrounding lesions in the suprasellar cistern