Leucotome

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A leucotome is a surgical instrument used for performing lobotomies. It was created by Nobel-winning Portuguese neurologist Egas Moniz in 1937.

Physician Walter Freeman used the leucotome in many of his operations in place of an icepick,^{[citation needed]} his original instrument of choice, but the leucotome commonly broke off inside the patient's skull when subjected to the stresses involved in Freeman's technique. It was replaced by the orbitoclast.

[edit] External links

• A leucotome from the University of Manchester Medical School Museum
• The Nobel Foundation page on prefrontal leukotomy