Editing Trepanning (section)

== Modern interpretation and research ==
Modern forensic and medical research on trepanned skulls demonstrates advanced surgical skills in prehistoric societies and highlights how trepanation influenced later developments in neurosurgery and the history of medicine. With the advancement of technology, it became possible to examine and interpret the trepanned skull with CT scans and new techniques of bioarchaeology. A recent study provided new perspective of the healing process of skull after cranial trepanation: even though there are many examples of prehistoric cranial lesions that have been classified as "healed trepanations", the research shows that definition of “healing” is not consistent. One of the reasons of distinction in variations of healing process is difference of surgical methods such as “scraping” or “grooving” that might alter the angle of the edge. The first smoothening of bone begins in 5 months, but total healing or closure never happens.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Partiot |first1=Caroline |last2=Lepetit |first2=Aliénor |last3=Dodré |first3=Emilie |last4=Jenger |first4=Camille |last5=Maureille |first5=Bruno |last6=Liguoro |first6=Dominique |last7=Thomas |first7=Aline |date=December 2020 |title=Cranial trepanation and healing process in modern patients—Bioarchaeological and anthropological implications |journal=Journal of Anatomy |language=en |volume=237 |issue=6 |pages=1049–1061 |doi=10.1111/joa.13266 |issn=0021-8782 |pmc=7704229 |pmid=32584468}}</ref>

By the 20th century, the ancient practice of trepanning evolved into procedure of bone marrow biopsy, which became vital for identifying illnesses including anemia, leukomia, lymphoma, and tuberculosis.<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal |last=Parapia |first=Liakat A. |date=October 2007 |title=Trepanning or trephines: a history of bone marrow biopsy |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2141.2007.06749.x |journal=British Journal of Haematology |language=en |volume=139 |issue=1 |pages=14–19 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2141.2007.06749.x |issn=0007-1048}}</ref> This change happened as doctors realized the need of accessing the inside of bones for diagnostic purposes, especially in the treatment of blood-related ailments. The initial tools of trepanation as crown trephine transitioned into the biopsy needles in modern medicine such as Vim-Silverman needle and Jamshidi needle.<ref name=":7" /> The instrument created a small hole in the skull, reducing the possibility of significant injury. These instruments’ adaptation in performing multiple medical functions, ranging from diagnosing blood and relieving cranial pressure, shows how tools adapt to advancements in medicine.