Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42835291›Full record

ReviewCureus2026

Historical Vignette on Trepanation: The Evolution of Opening the Skull.

Dilmareth E Natera-Rodriguez, Elizabeth Harty, Andrew Grande

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Dilmareth E Natera-RodriguezNeurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
Elizabeth HartyMedicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
Andrew GrandeNeurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Trepanation, the ancient practice of drilling or scraping a hole into the human skull, is one of the earliest known surgical procedures. Its evolution, from prehistoric times to modern neurosurgery, reflects the development of medical knowledge and surgical techniques, depicting significant progress and cultural variations that have persisted until our modern era. From its origins in Neolithic societies, where it was used for therapeutic and ritualistic purposes, to its refinement in ancient Greece, medieval Europe, and beyond, trepanation has been crucial to the history of medicine. Its legacy is seen in modern neurosurgical techniques, reflecting humanity's enduring quest to understand and treat cranial conditions.

Indexed as

ancient surgerycraniotomyhistorical vignettehistory of neurosurgerymedical historyneurosurgery historyneurosurgical techniquesskull surgerysurgical innovationtrepanation

Identifiers

PMID42835291
PMCPMC13635537

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.