1. a surgical procedure involving drilling a hole in the skull to relieve pressure or access the brain
Usage: medical

Examples

• Ancient civilizations practiced trepanning as early as 6500 BCE.
• The archaeologist discovered evidence of trepanning in the prehistoric skull.
• Modern trepanning is performed under strict sterile conditions.
• The patient survived the trepanning procedure and recovered fully.
• Trepanning was once believed to release evil spirits from the head.
• The museum displayed ancient tools used for trepanning.