Clinical experiences in neuronavigation

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the introduction of a neuronavigation system to our neurosurgical department as an increasingly important part of both planning and performing intracranial surgery. Material and Methods: From February 2005 to August 2006, 17 cranial neurosurgical operations with the aid of the Medtronic neuronavigation system were performed in the Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kirikkale. Duration of procedures, accuracy of targeting and processing the lesions, craniotomy spaces, duration of hospital stay, and postoperative neurologic status were evaluated. Results: Neuronavigation assisted operations accounted for 6.2% of elective surgeries in the selected time period. The mean deviation form accuracy for registration was 2.7 mm. Deep-seated small lesions comprised UP of the cases operated with neuronavigation assistance (33.3%). Although the duration of procedures and the duration of hospital stay seemed slightly higher for nueronavigation in comparison to the standard procedures it is more effective in the selection of the best position for the surgical approach, it reduces the time required for skin incision and craniotomy planning and cortex incision. Conclusion: Integration of high technology modalities to neurosurgery is becoming an increasingly used feature and provides useful information during surgery especially in small and multiple brain tumors located in eloquent brain areas.