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Advances in Medicine Making Neurosurgery Safer

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There are new technologies in the medical field to make brain surgery safer. By minimizing the risks and potential damage during surgery, patients will be more reliable and feel more confident going into surgery. Before operation begins, doctors can better evaluate the risks for each patient. These techniques will increase safety while avoiding potential risks.

Brain surgeons must ask specific questions to plan and access the brain to remove a tumor without causing further damage. Doctors need to determine where the functional areas of the cortex are. They need to determine what the nerve fiber tracts are and the paths that protect them. Doctors need to know the answers to these questions because nerve pathways connect the function parts of the brain. These nerve pathways are called nerve fiber tracts. Nerve fiber tracts need to be protected to prevent any permanent dysfunction. Growing tumors can also damage the nerve fibers by pushing or rubbing on them.

Reducing the Risk

When a nerve fiber tract becomes damaged, affected parts of the brain can have lasting impairment and cause motor, sensory, and cognitive damage. Therefore, it is necessary to have to ask specific questions before the operation to keep risks to a minimum. Surgeons use medical imagery to answer the questions about every brain there are operating on. Even though imaging is beneficial, there are a few inaccuracies when gathering information about the brain.

Mathematics

To not have the inaccuracies, this process has to be improved using math. A mathematical analysis of the images will produce accurate information about the location of the tumor and nerve tracts. This will ensure that the doctor is confident about the procedure, which will minimize stress on the patient.

The Final Process

A procedure has been developed at The Fraunhofer MEVIS Institue of Medical Image Computer that analyzes any doubts about the images. Inpatient data present this information. There are safety margins around the nerve fiber tracts. It also provides the surgeon with accurate data about the location of the nerve tracts. With all this information, the area of tracts in the field of the tumor can be accurately calculated. This software is receiving continual upgrades to benefit operations in the future. This equipment will provide neurosurgeons with information while operating to supplement the data obtained in the planning stages. Imaging and data processes have had a significant impact on medicine and will benefit the health of patients for years to come.