1. [Surgery of the skull base and paranasal sinuses assisted by a computerized navigation system without external orientation support].
- Author
-
Caversaccio M, Nuyens M, Bächler R, Lädrach K, Schroth G, Nolte L, and Häusler R
- Subjects
- Endoscopy methods, Equipment Design, Humans, Recurrence, Retrospective Studies, Chondroma surgery, Glomus Tumor surgery, Nasal Polyps surgery, Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms surgery, Paranasal Sinuses surgery, Skull Base surgery, Therapy, Computer-Assisted instrumentation
- Abstract
Objective: To present a new concept in computer-assisted surgery for the base of the skull and paranasal sinuses using a frameless navigation system., Method and Materials: This system is based on computer tomography images, which are displayed online on a workstation monitor. Using specially mounted infrared instruments, the patient's anatomic landmarks are visualized on the monitor. This system does not require invasive markers because it uses a reference system fixed to the patient with a silicone maxillary splint., Patients: From March 1997 to February 1998 we operated on 44 patients with this innovative system., Results: The clinical accuracy of this system was 0.5 to 2 mm for surgery of the anterior skull base and 1 to 2.5 mm for the lateral skull base. There were no intraoperative complications., Conclusions: This computer-assisted surgical aid made it possible to carry out complex and difficult skull-base surgery with reasonable intraoperative safety. It also allowed development of new minimally invasive surgical approaches.
- Published
- 1999