The Trepanation: A Journey to the Heart of Ancestral Medicine

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22 Mar 2024

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Since time immemorial, humanity has sought to cure its ailments and diseases with the means at its disposal. Among the oldest and most fascinating practices is trepanation, a procedure that involves drilling a hole in the human skull. This method, which may seem barbaric to modern eyes, is actually a window into the wisdom and desperation of our ancestors.

Trepanation is not a recent invention. Archaeologists have discovered skulls with signs of trepanation dating back to 3000 BC, indicating that this surgical practice is one of the oldest known to humanity. These findings are not limited to one region of the world; They have been found in Europe, America, Russia and China, suggesting that trepanation was a universal solution to problems we did not yet fully understand.

The motives behind trepanation were both medical and mystical. Some skulls show signs of healing, indicating that the patients survived the procedure and that it was possibly performed to treat conditions such as epilepsy, migraines or mental disorders. On the other hand, there was also the belief that headaches and other skull diseases were caused by demons that had to be expelled.

Although it may seem like an outdated practice, trepanation has evolved and remains relevant in modern medicine. Craniotomy, a contemporary version of trepanation, is used to treat brain tumors and subdural hematomas. It is a reminder that although our tools and techniques have improved, the fundamental challenges of medicine remain the same.

Today, trepanation procedures, known as craniotomies, are performed with advanced and precise medical equipment. The instruments used are called trephines, and they are specialized tools that allow cranial cavities to be drilled with great accuracy1. In addition, other instruments such as knives, tumis (T-shaped instruments), saws, chisels, chisels, hammers, sharp stones and tweezers are used to perform the intervention safely and effectively.

These modern equipment are designed to minimize risk and maximize precision during surgery. The bone fragment excised during trepanation can be reimplanted at the end of the intervention or replaced by another material that fulfills the same function, thus ensuring the protection of the brain and the aesthetics of the skull.