Craniotomy without tricotomy: Analysis of 640 cases

Abstract

The hair shaving in preparation for neurosurgeris frequently used in most of neurosurgical centers to perform craniotomy. We question about its necessity after our retrospective analysis of 640 patients undergoing cranial procedures without previous hair shaving. We had the overall surgical wound infection rate of 1.09%, not higher than tricotomy in the review of the literature. In 7 cases with infection, 3 patients were undergoing to CSF shunts, 3 patients had head injury, and one had brain tumor. The technique for preparing skin and hair for cranial procedures, its advantages and disvantages are described and discussed.