Neurosurgery
- (Stanford University - Jaclyn Chen)
- Overview
Neurosurgery, commonly referred to as brain surgery, is the medical specialty concerned with the surgical treatment of diseases affecting any part of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system.
Neurosurgery has been at the forefront of incorporating technological advancements to improve surgical outcomes.
- AI, Robotics, AR, and VR in Neurosurgery
Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and virtual and augmented reality (AR/VR) have been used in several neurosurgical subspecialties in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative stages of neurosurgery and have facilitated surgical Pre-planning, surgical decision-making, intra-operative workflow, risk minimization, post-operative clinical assessment, rehabilitation, training, research, and expanding access to high-quality care.
While the use of AI, AR, and VR in neurosurgical interventions is in its infancy, promising steps have been taken to incorporate these technologies into clinical practice.
- Robotic Spine Surgery
Robotic spine surgery, or robot-assisted spinal surgery, describes the use of robotics to assist in guidance during spinal neurosurgery.
Traditionally, neurosurgeons have relied on their knowledge of anatomy and X-rays to place instruments in the spine "freehand." They must keep their hands steady as they operate near important nerves in small corridors -- especially in today's minimally invasive procedures, where incisions are much smaller. Spine surgery can also be lengthy and laborious, leaving neurosurgeons prone to mental and physical fatigue.
Robots can perform repetitive tasks with virtually unlimited stamina and without performance degradation, minimizing the potential for fatigue-related errors and potentially leading to more consistent outcomes for patients. Robots can also improve surgical accuracy by eliminating problems with surgeon hand instability, moving to precisely programmed positions, and allowing surgeons to perform precise movements in tight spaces and procedures—such as those involving the placement of rods or screws Operation. In patients with challenging anatomy.
Additionally, the use of robotic guidance rather than image guidance minimizes radiation exposure for patients, surgeons, and other OR staff.
[More to come ...]
