Craniotomy is a surgical procedure where a portion of the skull bone is removed to access problems within the head requiring surgery.

Craniotomy is performed whenever access to any pathology within the brain is needed. A section of the skull is opened and bone removed near the location of the problem.

Generally, craniotomy is performed to access brain tissue, structures within the meninges, neurovascular structures; namely, brain tumors, neurovascular lesions, aneurysms, and AVMs; to address brain hemorrhages, head traumas, brain swelling, and to relieve pressure on the brain by allowing it to expand outward.

Craniotomy may be performed for the following reasons:

* Diagnosis, removal, and treatment of brain tumors
* Clipping or coiling of an aneurysm
* Removal of blood or blood clots from a leaking blood vessel
* Removal of an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) or treatment of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF)
* Drainage of an infected, pus-filled brain abscess
* Repair of skull fractures
* Repair of tears in the membrane covering the brain (dura mater)
* Removal of damaged or swollen areas of the brain to relieve pressure within the brain (intracranial pressure) which may result from traumatic injury or stroke
* Treatment of epilepsy