Date of Award

2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Cook, Peter

Area of Concentration

Neurobiology

Abstract

Head injuries can vary from a minor concussion to a gunshot wound. Every year, many patients die from injuries to the brain, while the survivors often become disabled. The aim of this review is to discuss the evolution of the surgical intervention for head injuries throughout the ages, as well as the currently available surgical treatments, in order to explore the past, present and future of neurosurgery. Head injuries have been treated medically for thousands of years, and treatment has followed a constant evolution from ancient times all the way through the 21st century. Celsus, Paul of Aegina and Berengario Da Carpi are among some of the influential surgeons that described the management of skull fractures in great detail, including surgical instruments and pre- or post-operative measures. However, it was not until the 20th century that there was a sudden increase for the need of skilled surgeons to treat injuries to the head sustained as a result of war, which consequently led to the establishment of neurosurgery as a medical field. In addition, the invention of neuroimaging techniques allowed the increased visibility of the cranial cavity, and aided the report of the mechanism of injury and the establishment of a safe surgical path toward the injury. When conventional medical treatments are not effective in controlling the damage caused by head injuries, surgical procedures are the recommended course of action. The surgical management of head injuries varies according to cause and severity. Some of the paths that the search for a better treatment of head injuries has undergone is the establishment of biomarkers, the implementation of preventative measures, and the practice of robotic-assisted surgery. Ultimately, the aim of a constant evolution of the surgical treatment of head injuries is the improvement of the post-surgical outcomes, the decrease of possible side effects of treatment, and the increase in the availability of treatment for the general population, in particular for third world countries.

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