title: The impact of an armless frameless neuronavigation system on routine brain tumour surgery: a prospective analysis of 51 cases.
abstract: A passive infrared armless and frameless neuronavigation system was introduced in routine intracranial and skull base surgery, and its impact on 51 cases in a one year period was assessed. No cases were rejected by the operating surgeon for lack of accuracy (> 3 mm). Operating time was not significantly lengthened, except in transphenoidal cases (255 +/- SD 168 min versus 185 +/- SD 119 min, p = 0.02). Length of stay was shorter in navigation cases in supratentorial glioma (12 +/- SD 7.3 days versus 15 +/- SD 7.9 days) and meningioma (11 +/- SD 5.3 days versus 16 +/- SD 6.7 days, p = 0.01). Outcome at 3 months was comparable in both the supratentorial glioma and meningioma group. Problems such as setup time and brain shift are addressed and discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008579:Meningioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques