title: Clinical experiences in neuronavigation.
abstract: We have successfully used a navigation system in more than 120 neurosurgical operations for past two years. The neuronavigation system provides high levels of mechanical accuracy in surgical localization, especially for small deep-seated masses or epileptic foci, surgical planning for intrinsic and extrinsic brain tumors, and arteriovenous malformation and guidance of instrumentation of spinal surgery. The ages of the patients were from 12 months to 75 years. The sex distribution was equal. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging with 2-3 mm thick slices were employed for image guidance. The clinical experiences included 50 cases of deep-seated mass, 50 cases of surgical planning for tumor or vascular mass excision and 20 cases of spinal instrumentation treatment. There were no mechanical failures. Neuronavigation definitely provides a good technology in frameless brain and spinal surgeries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung University and Medical Center at Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan. chenmd@ms8.hinet.net
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D038361:Neuronavigation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods