In ancient times, trepanation was thought to be a treatment for various ailments, such as head injuries. It may also have been used to treat pain. Some scientists also think that the practice was used to pull spirits from the body in rituals. Many times, the person would survive and heal after the surgery.

What is trepanning and why was it done?

Trepanation is a treatment used for epidural and subdural hematomas, and surgical access for certain other neurosurgical procedures, such as intracranial pressure monitoring. Modern surgeons generally use the term craniotomy for this procedure.

Is trepanning still used today?

Today, neurosurgeons still use trepanation, although for very different reasons. The technique is primarily used for the treatment of epidural and subdural hematomas.