Cone-Penfield Method

Cone-Penfield method: essence, application and history

The Cone-Penfield technique, also known as suboccipital myoplastic craniotomy, is a brain surgery technique that was developed by Canadian neurosurgeon Wilder Penfield and his colleague Herbert Cone in the first half of the 20th century.

The technique involves the surgeon making a small hole in the skull to gain access to the brain and then using instruments to stimulate specific areas of the brain. This allows the surgeon to determine which part of the brain controls certain body functions, such as movement, sensation and speech. This information can be used to treat various neurological and psychiatric diseases.

The Cone-Penfield method has a long history of use in neurosurgery, and it remains one of the most popular methods for studying the brain. It was first used by Penfield in the 1920s to study epilepsy, and has since been used to treat various diseases such as brain tumors, Parkinson's disease and depression.

Although the Cone-Penfield method is an effective tool for studying the brain and treating neurological diseases, it also has its drawbacks. It can be dangerous and cause various side effects such as loss of vision, hearing or speech. In addition, the method can be very expensive and require a long recovery time.

In conclusion, the Cone-Penfield method is an important tool for studying the brain and treating neurological diseases. However, before deciding to use this method, it is necessary to carefully evaluate its advantages and disadvantages, and also consult with experienced specialists in the field of neurosurgery.



The Cone-Penfield technique, or suboccipitotomy, is an intramedullary resection and suturing of the brain that is used in neurosurgery. This method is aimed at eliminating epileptic seizures and improving the patient's cognitive functions. Let's talk more about this method. The suboccipital method is an intervention process during which part of the upper part of the brain - the occipital and parietal lobes - is removed. Or, more simply, the bones of the skull are dissected in the place where these lobes are located. The surgeon may also remove bones to allow easier access to the brain. Although the history of the Cone-Panfield method goes back many decades, until now there has not been a high level of clinical evidence regarding the technique of surgical treatment of epilepsy and consciousness in this way. However, there is already every reason to assume that the result of this operation is, at least as of the mid-20th century, quite good. In any case, if the doctor decided to carry out this operation and it was performed correctly, its result, as a rule, appears very quickly. This is evidenced by historical information, supported by medical documents. Also, a number of researchers talk about the high effectiveness of such a surgical procedure in the treatment of cutaneous drug-induced epilepsy. Special techniques have been developed for this problem. Using the Cone method, plastic surgery of the upper part of the brain can be performed. Patients are subjected to subexcipital myoplasty. The manipulation is considered safe, but complications are possible: respiratory and cardiac disorders, drop in blood pressure. Complications may include:

drowsiness; anxiety; headache; memory impairment; hearing impairment; nausea; vomit. According to modern estimates, the prognosis for life and social adaptation after suboccipital myoplasty surgery is favorable. If you take into account contraindications, the method does not have harmful effects on the body and is minimally invasive. It is used in patients with epilepsy. Without consulting a doctor, the patient cannot carry out these therapy methods independently. It should be noted that the risk of serious loss of cognitive abilities after a head injury is just as high as after an accident, when the likelihood of a fall, blow, or other injuries is high. Accordingly, the lower the risk of an accident to the brain, the easier it will be to treat any injury (eg, mild) as a component of a serious injury (eg, severe).