Cranioplasty is a well-known procedure in modern neurosurgery. Although some authors have claimed it was also performed by prehistoric trepanners in various parts of the world, there is little hard evidence to support this. Here we review various claims of cranioplasty in Peru, where trepanation was widely practised in Prehispanic times. We find little support for assertions that cranioplasty w...

In dieser Arbeit wird ein mechatronisches handgeführtes neurochirurgisches Instrument vorgestellt, das häufig auftretende Komplikationen bei der Eröffnung des Schädels (Trepanation) vermeiden soll. Durch eine Kombination weichgewebeschonender Sägetechnologie und automatischer Schnitttiefenregelung sollen mit dem Sicherheits-Trepanationssystem (STS) Verletzungen der Dura mater verhindert und zud...

In turn, the anthropological definition of trepanation is an intentional and planned opening of the skull, carried out with instruments designed for this purpose (Campillo 1994:41-42; Pahl 1993:20-22). This operation is distinct from cephalic surgery, which is destined to operate on the tissues inside the skull. Not included in this definition are posthumous cranial apertures, like trophy skull...

Intermittently, we witness how evidence from one academic field can have a significant impact on researchers working in other specialties; this case, the fields of osteoarchaeology and medical history. In issue, an article by Micarelli et al. (2023) entitled “An Unprecedented Case Cranial Surgery Longobard Italy” presents fascinating example surgery early medieval period. A cross-shaped area in...