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You’re scrubbing into

Burr-hole drainage of chronic subdural

Why are we operating?

Two small holes in the skull to let out the old blood that has been slowly squeezing an older brain; among neurosurgery's simplest operations and most grateful recoveries.

Indication: Symptomatic chronic subdural haematoma, typically weeks after minor trauma in an older or anticoagulated patient.

The operation in 4 steps

  1. 01Planning from the scan

  2. 02The burr holes

  3. 03Opening the dura and washing out

  4. 04Subdural drain and closure

Watch it done

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Conceptual teaching for learners preparing to observe and assist under supervision, not operative instructions. Five minutes from now you should know why this operation exists, what its shape is, and which structures it is designed not to injure.