The impact of an armless frameless neuronavigation system on routine brain tumour surgery: A prospective analysis of 51 cases

Abstract

A passive infrared armless and frameless neuronavigation system was introduced in routine intracranial and skull base surgery, and its impact on 51 cases in a one year period was assessed. No cases were rejected by the operating surgeon for lack of accuracy (> 3 mm). Operating time was not significantly lengthened, except in transphenoidal cases (255±SD 168 min versus 185±SD 119 min, p = 0.02). Length of stay was shorter in navigation cases in supratentorial glioma (12±SD 7.3 days versus 15±SD 7.9 days) and meningioma (11±SD 5.3 days versus 16±SD 6.7 days, p = 0.01). Outcome at 3 months was comparable in both the supratentorial glioma and meningioma group. Problems such as setup time and brain shift are addressed and discussed.