Stereotaxic surgery

Stereotaxic Surgery is a minimally invasive form of surgical intervention which makes use of a three-dimensional coordinate system to locate small targets inside the body and to perform on them some action such as ablation, biopsy, lesion, injection, stimulation, implantation, radiosurgery (SRS), etc.

In the domain of functional neurosurgery, stereotactic surgery had been the traditional method of placing lesions or implants in the brain prior to the advent of MRI guided procedures. Stereotactic surgery still remains the gold standard for intervention in the brain and increasingly the spine.

History

The concept of stereotaxis was first introduced by Horsley and Clarke in 1908. They developed the "Horsley-Clarke Apparatus" which was a device for the precise placement of electrodes in the brain of animals. This device was the first stereotactic apparatus and was used in the study of animal brains.

Procedure

The procedure of stereotaxic surgery involves the use of a stereotactic frame, which is a device used to localize the point in space where the surgical intervention will take place. The frame is attached to the patient's head and a series of measurements are taken to determine the exact location of the target area. Once the target area has been located, a small hole is drilled in the skull and the surgical instrument is inserted through the hole to the target area.

Applications

Stereotaxic surgery is used in a variety of medical applications, including neurosurgery, radiation therapy, and research. In neurosurgery, it is used to treat conditions such as Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and brain tumors. In radiation therapy, it is used to deliver precise doses of radiation to tumors. In research, it is used to study the brain and other organs.

Risks and Complications

As with any surgical procedure, stereotaxic surgery carries some risks. These include infection, bleeding, and damage to surrounding tissues. However, because stereotaxic surgery is minimally invasive, the risks are generally lower than with traditional open surgery.

See Also

• Neurosurgery
• Radiation Therapy
• Parkinson's Disease
• Epilepsy
• Brain Tumor

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