craniotomy

noun

cra·​ni·​ot·​o·​my ˌkrā-nē-ˈä-tə-mē 

plural craniotomies

: surgical opening of the skull

Examples of craniotomy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While at the hospital, da Silva, 79, underwent a craniotomy — a surgical procedure in which part of the skull is removed to access the brain, per the Mayo Clinic — in order to drain the bleed, the social media post added. —Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024

She's been keeping followers updated on her health journey on YouTube and TikTok since the announcement and has undergone three craniotomies to date. —Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 10 June 2024

However, Isabella was hospitalized at the time due to her emergency craniotomy. —Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 29 May 2024

Valeria had incurred severe head trauma from a cycling accident days before, and underwent an emergency craniotomy to reduce pressure on her brain. —Armani Syed, TIME, 24 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

craniotomy

noun

cra·​ni·​ot·​o·​my ˌkrā-nē-ˈät-ə-mē 

plural craniotomies

1

: the operation of cutting or crushing the fetal head to effect delivery

fetal craniotomies … performed to save the life of the mother

—R. E. Frisch

2

: surgical opening of the skull