Neuronavigáció

Neuronavigáció, also known as image-guided surgery or frameless stereotaxy, is a medical technology that uses preoperative imaging data to provide surgeons with real-time guidance during surgical procedures. This technology helps to precisely locate anatomical structures within the patient's body, improving accuracy and minimizing damage to surrounding tissues.

The process typically begins with acquiring detailed imaging of the patient's anatomy, usually through MRI or CT scans, before the surgery. This imaging data is then loaded into a specialized computer system. During the surgery, a tracking system, often using infrared cameras or electromagnetic fields, monitors the position of surgical instruments. By correlating the instrument's position with the preoperative imaging data, the neuronavigation system displays the instrument's location on the patient's scan in real-time, essentially acting as a surgical GPS.

Neuronavigation finds its widest application in neurosurgery, assisting in the removal of brain tumors, biopsies, and the treatment of vascular malformations. However, its use is expanding to other surgical specialties such as orthopedic surgery, spinal surgery, and even ENT procedures. The benefits include increased surgical precision, reduced operative time, minimized invasiveness, and potentially improved patient outcomes by avoiding critical structures.