Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery
In the past, brain surgery procedures often required large incisions in the scalp along with the removal of large bone sections to access the inside of the skull. These procedures have largely been replaced with less invasive techniques that allow for faster recovery while reducing potential complications.
The surgeons of Arizona Neurosurgery and Spine At The CORE Institute, located in Phoenix and Peoria, Arizona, are not only up-to-date on the latest techniques, they’re specialists in the field.
Why is minimally invasive surgery preferable?
Though procedures are still evolving, minimally invasive surgical techniques are safe and proven through years of successful operations. The advantages over conventional techniques are many, and it’s generally accepted today that conservative treatment yields the best results with the least risk for complications.
Practical benefits of minimally invasive surgery include:
- Safer surgery presenting less trauma to your body
Shorter recovery time, since less surrounding tissue is affected
- Less risk of infection, which is as much as six times more likely with conventional techniques
- Lower blood loss during surgery, reducing the risk of shock
Fewer and smaller scars, as large openings are no longer required - Greater accuracy using specialized video equipment to pinpoint problem areas
- Less expensive, since shorter procedures and hospital stays result from minimally invasive techniques
What are some of the minimally invasive procedures used by the surgeons of Arizona Neurosurgery and Spine At The CORE Institute?
Tumors deep under the brain’s surface, microcraniotomy permits access through a small opening of about half an inch. This is small enough to minimize damage to surrounding brain tissue unaffected by the tumor. In some other cases, a technique called stereotactic neuronavigation uses very small skin incisions and bone removal for access to the inside of the skull.
A type of microcraniotomy called a key hole craniotomy permits minimally invasive removal of tumors between, above, or behind the eyes, rather than through larger openings at the top of the skull, as with conventional techniques.
Neuroendoscopy uses a tool called an endoscope to provide high-resolution images of the inside of the skull. These, too, use only small incisions and bone openings to perform a range of neurosurgical procedures. These include:
- Pituitary tumors, typically removed through the nose
Colloid cysts – tumors usually found near the center of the brain, but which grow slowly - Meningioma tumors, also removed through the nose
Craniopharyngioma – tumors between the base of the skull and top of the throat
Is minimally invasive surgery safe?
Though all surgery carries risks, the advantages of minimally invasive brain surgery listed above, in the hands of specialized neurosurgeons, like those at Arizona Neurosurgery and Spine At The CORE Institute, combine to provide a surgical experience with lower factors for risk than traditional open surgery techniques.
