Trepanation???? Ouch!

The burrowing of a hole into a person's skull to reveal the dura mater as a treatment of intracranial diseases. This supposed pseudoscience was once the breakthrough treatment for epilepsy, migraines and serious mental illness (i.e. Schizophrenia); with evidence to suggest that survival rates were high and infection rates low. "During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, trepanation was practiced as a cure for various ailments, including seizures and skull fractures. Out of eight skulls with trepanations from the 6th-8th centuries found in southwestern Germany, seven skulls show clear evidence of healing and survival after trepanation" - quote from Wiki.

Modern day surgery that is an enhanced version of this invasive procedure is classified as a Craniotomy; which is used as treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) such as Subdural Haematoma, Brain Lesions, and Deep Brain Stimulators (treatment for Parkinson's Disease, Epilepsy and Cerebellar Tremor).


I suppose you're now wondering why I'm waffling on about such a subject? Well - I came across this wonderful article at New Scientist today on my break (advantages of being an IT technician at the moment);

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227121.400-like-a-hole-in-the-head-the-return-of-trepanation.html

Trepanation as a treatment of Alzheimer's disease? I await the research!