Clinical Scorecard: A Bibliometric Study of Extended Reality Applications in Cranial and Spinal Neurosurgery
At a Glance
Category
Detail
Condition
Neurosurgical procedures involving cranial and spinal pathologies
Key Mechanisms
Use of extended reality (XR) technologies including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) to enhance 3D visualization and navigation
Target Population
Patients undergoing cranial and spinal neurosurgical interventions; neurosurgical residents in training
Care Setting
Neurosurgical centers and academic institutions
Key Highlights
XR technologies complement traditional neuronavigation by providing immersive 3D visualization, improving precision in treating intracranial pathologies such as aneurysms, gliomas, and meningiomas.
XR-based training enhances surgical education by integrating anatomy visualization with haptic feedback, improving procedural memory and reducing operative time.
The bibliometric analysis identified significant growth in XR-related neurosurgical publications since 1998, with a majority published after 2015 and increasing open access availability.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Utilize XR to augment neuronavigation systems when 2D navigation is insufficient for complex cranial and spinal pathologies.
Management
Incorporate XR technologies in surgical planning and intraoperative navigation to enhance precision and safety.
Employ XR-based simulation training to improve resident surgical skills and confidence.
Monitoring & Follow-up
Monitor surgical outcomes for reduced revision rates and radiation exposure associated with XR-assisted procedures.
Risks
Consider limitations of XR technology including potential technical challenges and the need for validation in diverse neurosurgical applications.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures involving cranial and spinal interventions
XR integration has been associated with improved surgical precision, reduced radiation exposure, and enhanced training outcomes, potentially leading to safer and more effective neurosurgical care.
Clinical Best Practices
Adopt XR technologies as adjuncts to conventional neuronavigation to overcome limitations of 2D imaging.
Integrate XR-based simulation into neurosurgical residency curricula to reinforce procedural memory and reduce operative times.
Encourage open access dissemination of XR neurosurgical research to promote global collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Evaluate and select appropriate XR modalities (VR, AR, MR) based on specific surgical and training needs.
by Ali Buwaider, Victor Gabriel El-Hajj, Omar Ali Mahdi, Alessandro Iop, Maria Gharios, Andrea de Giorgio, Mario Romero, Paul Gerdhem, Walter C Jean, Erik Edström, Adrian Elmi-Terander
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