Stereotactic Surgery

When dealing with stereotactic surgery, a minimally invasive technique that uses three‑dimensional coordinates to target exact spots in the brain or spine. Also known as stereotactic neurosurgery, it enables clinicians to treat lesions with high accuracy. This approach stereotactic surgery is a subset of neurosurgery, the broader field that handles disorders of the nervous system and often works hand‑in‑hand with radiosurgery, a non‑invasive method that delivers focused radiation to disease‑bearing tissue. The central idea is simple: combine precise imaging with computer‑driven tools so that surgeons can reach deep‑seated targets while sparing healthy tissue. In practice, the workflow looks like this: acquire high‑resolution scans, plan the trajectory, position the frame or mask, and then deliver the treatment—whether it’s a tiny probe, a laser fiber, or a radiation beam.

Key Technologies Behind Precise Targeting

One of the most recognizable devices in this space is the Gamma Knife, a dedicated radiosurgery system that uses multiple cobalt‑60 sources to focus radiation on a single point. It exemplifies how image‑guided navigation and stereotactic frames converge to achieve sub‑millimeter accuracy. Besides Gamma Knife, frameless systems that rely on optical or infrared tracking are gaining ground, especially for awake procedures where patient comfort matters. These platforms require real‑time feedback from MRI or CT scans, making image guidance, the process of aligning surgical tools with pre‑operative images a non‑negotiable component. Together, the equipment enables clinicians to perform biopsies, implant deep‑brain stimulators, or ablate tumors with confidence.

The clinical reach of stereotactic surgery extends from movement‑disorder therapy—think Parkinson’s disease deep‑brain stimulation—to functional neurosurgery for epilepsy, pain, or obsessive‑compulsive disorder. Each application follows the same semantic triple: stereotactic surgery includes precise targeting, requires advanced imaging, and delivers focused treatment. Outcomes improve because the method reduces collateral damage, shortens hospital stays, and often allows outpatient treatment. As technology evolves, we see hybrid approaches that blend radio‑frequency ablation with laser interstitial thermal therapy, pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved through tiny incisions. Below you’ll find a curated set of articles that dive deeper into specific tools, procedural nuances, and recent advances, giving you a practical roadmap to understand and apply stereotactic techniques in real‑world settings.