Craniotomy for Subdural Grids, Strips, Depth-Electrodes

What Is Craniotomy for Subdural Grids Strips and Depth Electrodes?

Intracranial electrodes may be using during surgery to identify epileptogenic (ability to cause an epileptic seizure) areas of the brain and the eloquent cortex where control of the motor, sensory, and speech functions are located. When these electrodes are only temporarily employed during surgery and then removed, it’s called intraoperative electrocorticography. Electrodes that are left in place after surgery to monitor and record electrical brain activity are considered extraoperative monitoring.

Regardless of whether you need intraoperative electrocorticography or extraoperative monitoring, a craniotomy is necessary to situate the electrodes on or in the brain. A smaller skull opening called a burr hole may be used to insert subdural strips or depth electrodes, but subdural grids often require larger craniotomies.

What Conditions Might Call for a Craniotomy for Subdural Grids Strips and Depth Electrodes Diagnose?

• Electrocortical stimulation and the use of subdural grids, strips or depth electrodes may be used to help locate the origination of epileptic seizures in the brain. Surgery to treat intractable epilepsy may involve resectioning epileptogenic zones of the brain that are close to the eloquent cortex, and intraoperative electrical stimulation can help the neurosurgeon differentiate between the lesion and the white matter of the brain.
• Certain low-grade brain tumors, such as gliomas and meningiomas, presenting with seizures may necessitate an electrocortical stimulation to map the eloquent areas of the brain. An awake craniotomy during surgery can combat instances of brain shift that can occur between preoperative mapping and surgery.
• In preparation for surgical treatments of epilepsy, diagnostic advancements in brain mapping can assist your doctor in determining the origination of the seizures in the brain.