Evaluation of the use of navigation in neurosurgical operations

Neurosurgical operations demand the precise localization of anatomic structures through the safest and usually shortest route causing the least possible damage of normal tissue. In the previous decades that issue was managed partially based only on the knowledge of anatomy and on various complicated methods. Surgical navigation (neuronavigation) was developed in order to perform more effective and convenient and safer - less invasive neurosurgical operations. Brain biopsies and percutaneous balloon compression are two common neurosurgical operations which demand high precision, too, with the standard procedures being demanding. In this book the use of the navigation system "StealthStation" is described for the above two procedures and the results from two published studies conducted for PhD dissertation are analyzed. Also, a complete review of stereotaxy, navigation technology - methods, miniframe devices, brain biopsy procedures; and in addition, historical landmarks, clinical presentation, pathophysiology, diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment concerning trigeminal neuralgia is also presented.