Common man’s intraoperative ultrasound: Basic Sonosite™ probe doubling as real time neuronavigator

Abstract

Neuronavigation technology has become indispensable to modern Neurosurgery. There are many systems which use the patient’s pre-operative imaging data and help the surgeon navigate the brain during surgery. Systems have been developed for both intracranial, endoscopic skull base and spinal procedures. The main drawback of this method is its reliance on static pre-operative imaging data. Real-time ultrasound based navigation systems have also been introduced which help mitigate the afore-mentioned drawback. Although the use of these technologies has been proven useful, many centers are unable to replicate its use as it comes with increased cost. For centers yet to acquire such costly devices, we report our experience with the readily available, SonoSiteTM high frequency transducer in cranial and spinal neurosurgical operations. Our experience suggests that use of the SonoSiteTM high frequency transducer during common neurosurgical procedures both cranial and spinal is both user friendly and efficacious.