Transorbital Lobotomy

Transorbital lobotomy is a surgical procedure historically used to treat severe mental health conditions. It involves accessing the brain through the eye socket (orbit) with a sharp instrument called an orbitoclast. The surgeon carefully moves the instrument into the brain's frontal lobes and then disconnects or damages certain nerve pathways to alter emotional or behavioral symptoms. Developed in the 1930s, it was once considered a breakthrough but is now largely abandoned due to serious side effects and ethical concerns. Today, more effective and humane treatments are used for mental health conditions.