A new head clamp for stereotactic and intracranial procedures. Technical note.

The authors have devised a clamp to fix the head to the surgical table during stereotactic procedures for placement of depth electrodes. The main advantages of this device derive from the rigid immobilization of the head. The clamp facilitates fixation of the stereotactic frame to the head, percutaneous twist drill trephination of any site of the skull, X-ray centering with a laser beam, mobilization of contrast material during ventriculography or pneumoencephalography, and placement of epidural screws. This head clamp can also be used during craniotomies for fixation of the head and support for brain retractors.