Varma T R K, Eldridge P R, Forster A, Fox S, Fletcher N, Steiger M, Littlechild P, Byrne P, Sinnott A, Tyler K, Flintham S
Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Liverpool, UK.
Stereotact Funct Neurosurg. 2003;80(1-4):132-5. doi: 10.1159/000075173.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the use of the NeuroMate stereotactic robot with a novel ultrasound registration system for movement disorder surgery (MDS).
Using the robot in a frameless mode, 51 patients underwent MDS. Surgical planning was carried out using MRI data obtained more than 24 h before surgery.
37 out of 50 targets in the subthalamic nucleus were satisfactorily identified with a single microelectrode trajectory and the final electrode positions were at a mean distance of 1.7 mm from the calculated target. There was a significant improvement in motor scores of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III (off medication) at 6 (43%) and 18 months (51.7%) compared to pre-operative scores (p < 0.05).
The frameless robot using only MRI data can be used for MDS. The temporal separation of imaging from the surgical procedure provides additional time for detailed image analysis and planning.
