Head holder

Head holder is a device used to position the head in a rigid, stable position throughout the surgical procedure. The most common example of non invasive head holder is a horseshoe well-padded pillow. It is used most commonly in very young children for avoiding pins-related damages to the skull and to the intracranial structures.

The most common type of pin-fixed head holder is the Mayfield clamp. It provides a fixation system with three pins fixed to the skull. The clamp is tightened by the surgeon and a dynamometric system reduces the risk of injuries. Sugita head holder have an higher number of fixation pins and can support self retractor system. Inappropriate use of head clamps has been associated with skull fractures, lacerations, air embolisms and epidural hematoma, especially in children.