Frameless and Maskless Stereotactic Navigation with a Skull-Mounted Tracker

Abstract

Objective: In this series, we present 3 cases that show the use of a skull-mounted tracker for image-guided navigation for anterior skull base surgery and ventricular catheter placement procedures. This system obviates fiducials or face masks during the surgical procedure itself and allows for the performance of facial incisions using the Weber-Ferguson approach.

Methods: Our series presents the use of a novel intraoperative navigational system that uses a skull-mounted tracker to navigated anterior skull base surgery.

Results: We present 3 cases using this new system: 1 anterior skull base tumor removal that was operated on without a facemask for navigation and 2 ventricular catheter placement procedures.

Conclusions: Intraoperative image-guided navigation has revolutionized neurosurgery. It undoubtedly increases the surgeon's confidence and the perception of safety. Although fiducials and facial masks are the most widely used tools for intraoperative navigation, their use is associated with certain complications. This technique permits free movement of the head during surgery, which in turn facilitates the exposure of head and neck lesions and expedites the approach to ventricular catheter placement. Our case series shows the precision and ease of our technique, which is less time consuming and less cumbersome than the traditional frame-based stereotaxy. In addition, the skull-mounted tracker system allows improved anatomic localization and shorter operating time and avoids the complications associated with the use of rigid fixating head frames.

Keywords: Face mask; Frameless navigation; Skull-mounted tracker.