Which surgical procedure involves removal of a bone flap?

Which surgical procedure involves removal of a bone flap?

• A. Craniectomy
• B. Craniotomy
• C. Craniosynostosis
• D. Cranioplasty

Answer: (B)

The procedure that involves the removal of a bone flap is craniectomy. During a craniectomy, a section of the skull is removed to relieve pressure on the brain, often due to conditions such as traumatic brain injury, swelling, or other medical emergencies. The bone flap that is removed may be preserved for later reattachment, depending on the specific circumstances of the surgery. In contrast, craniotomy refers to the surgical procedure where a bone flap is not removed entirely but rather temporarily lifted or resected to access the brain for various interventions, such as tumor removal or brain repair. Craniosynostosis is a congenital condition involving the premature fusion of skull bones, which may require surgical intervention but does not specifically pertain to the removal of a bone flap. Cranioplasty involves the repair of a defect in the skull, often following a craniectomy, but does not include the initial removal of a bone flap. Understanding these definitions helps to distinguish between different surgical procedures and their specific purposes related to cranial surgery.

The procedure that involves the removal of a bone flap is craniectomy. During a craniectomy, a section of the skull is removed to relieve pressure on the brain, often due to conditions such as traumatic brain injury, swelling, or other medical emergencies. The bone flap that is removed may be preserved for later reattachment, depending on the specific circumstances of the surgery.

In contrast, craniotomy refers to the surgical procedure where a bone flap is not removed entirely but rather temporarily lifted or resected to access the brain for various interventions, such as tumor removal or brain repair. Craniosynostosis is a congenital condition involving the premature fusion of skull bones, which may require surgical intervention but does not specifically pertain to the removal of a bone flap. Cranioplasty involves the repair of a defect in the skull, often following a craniectomy, but does not include the initial removal of a bone flap.

Understanding these definitions helps to distinguish between different surgical procedures and their specific purposes related to cranial surgery.