Etymed
craniotomy
Definition
surgical incision into the skull
Clinical context
A 28-year-old man presents after a motor vehicle accident with severe head trauma. Imaging reveals an epidural hematoma requiring neurosurgical intervention. The surgical team performs a craniotomy to evacuate the hematoma and relieve intracranial pressure. Post-operatively, the patient shows significant improvement in neurological function.
Mnemonic
Craniotomy = 'Crani' (skull) + 'otomy' (incision) - think 'crack open the skull' for brain surgery