The Future of Skull Base Surgery: A View Through Tinted Glasses
- 1 October 2020
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Elsevier BV in World Neurosurgery
- Vol. 142, 29-42
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2020.06.172
Abstract
In the present report, we have broadly outlined the potential advances in the field of skull base surgery, which might occur within the next 20 years based on the many areas of current research in biology and technology. Many of these advances will also be broadly applicable to other areas of neurosurgery. We have grounded our predictions for future developments in an exploration of what patients and surgeons most desire as outcomes for care. We next examined the recent developments in the field and outlined several promising areas of future improvement in skull base surgery, per se, as well as identifying the new hospital support systems needed to accommodate these changes. These include, but are not limited to, advances in imaging, Raman spectroscopy and microscopy, 3-dimensional printing and rapid prototyping, master-slave and semi-autonomous robots, artificial intelligence applications in all areas of medicine, telemedicine, and green technologies in hospitals. In addition, we have reviewed the therapeutic approaches using nanotechnology, genetic engineering, antitumor antibodies, and stem cell technologies to repair damage caused by traumatic injuries, tumors, and iatrogenic injuries to the brain and cranial nerves. Additionally, we have discussed the training requirements for future skull base surgeons and stressed the need for adaptability and change. However, the essential requirements for skull base surgeons will remain unchanged, including knowledge, attention to detail, technical skill, innovation, judgment, and compassion. We believe that active involvement in these rapidly evolving technologies will enable us to shape some of the future of our discipline to address the needs of both patients and our profession.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (RO1 EBO 16457)
- NIH
- National Cancer Institute
- Small Business Innovation Research Phase I (R43 CA211086)
- Department of Defense (Phase I Army Small Business Technology Transfer [STTR] (W81XWH-09-C-0159)
- Phase I Army STTR (A09A-028-0022)
- Phase I Army STTR (A09A-028-0022)
- Phase II Army STTR (W81XWH-09-0159)
- University of Washington CoMotion Amazon Catalyst
- The Artificially Intelligent Robotic Surgical Assistant
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