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Effectiveness of zigzag Incision and 1.5-Layer method for frontotemporal craniotomy
Noriaki Minami1, Toshikazu Kimura2, Takehiro Uda3
1Department of Neurosurgery, Kobe University School of Medicine, Kusunoki-cho, 7-5-2, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Japan.
Surgical Neurology International
|July 4, 2014
Summary
A novel zigzag incision technique for brain surgery significantly improves cosmetic outcomes and patient-reported social function compared to traditional methods. This minimally invasive approach enhances patient satisfaction and reduces visible scarring after neurosurgical procedures.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Plastic Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Procedures
Background:
- Minimally invasive surgery prioritizes inconspicuous scars.
- Current neurosurgical practices offer limited cosmetic improvement for operative scars.
- Zigzag and coronal incisions are established in plastic surgery but underexplored in neurosurgery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cosmetic and functional outcomes of a zigzag incision technique in neurosurgery.
- To compare the efficacy of zigzag incisions versus traditional incisions for cerebral aneurysm surgery.
Main Methods:
- A zigzag incision with a 1.5-layer closure method was used in 14 patients with unruptured cerebral aneurysms.
- Patient-reported outcomes were assessed using the SF-36v2 questionnaire.
- Results were compared to a historical cohort that underwent traditional incision techniques.
Main Results:
- No operative wound complications were observed in the zigzag incision group.
- All SF-36v2 parameters showed a trend toward improvement in the zigzag group.
- The Role Social Component score (RCS) was significantly higher in patients with zigzag incisions (P=0.0436).
Conclusions:
- The zigzag incision, combined with the 1.5-layer method and frontotemporal craniotomy, offers superior cosmetic results.
- This technique also demonstrates significant improvement in social role functioning (RCS) compared to conventional incisions.
- The zigzag incision represents a promising advancement for improving patient outcomes in neurosurgery.

