The pneumatic motor is known for its great speed, which makes surgery much easier and faster. It is driven by expanding compressed air. The use of this kind of mechanism has many advantages such as the ease of use through high peak velocities. Thanks to superior torque, this system has great performance and it is essential for complex revision operations. The surgical procedure is shorter than usual, so patients spend less time under anesthesia.

Pneumatic high-speed craniotomes usually run at 40,000 to 80,000 rpm and have greatly facilitated intracranial approaches in neurosurgery. They are also employed to temporarily remove the vertebral arch in laminotomy.