Radiolucent Skull Clamps for Intra-Operative Imaging: A Technical Note

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Medical Imaging
• Radiology

Background:

• The integration of diagnostic imaging into surgical procedures is transforming operating rooms into intraoperative imaging suites.
• Advances in imaging technology, such as cone beam computed tomography (CT), are making intraoperative imaging more feasible due to less bulky equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe experiences with near-radiolucent skull clamps in neurosurgery.
• To discuss associated problems and potential future improvements for high-quality intraoperative imaging in neurosurgery.

Main Methods:

• Evaluation of near-radiolucent skull clamps used in conjunction with intraoperative imaging (MRI or CT) for neurosurgery.
• Analysis of image artifacts caused by these skull clamps.

Main Results:

• Near-radiolucent skull clamps, while an improvement, still cause image artifacts that impair the usefulness of intraoperative MRI or CT for neurosurgery.
• Metal artifacts are particularly problematic for cone beam CT scanners, leading to significant image quality degradation.

Conclusions:

• High-quality image guidance in neurosurgery is currently limited by artifacts from skull clamps.
• Further development of radiolucent skull clamps is essential to fully realize the potential of intraoperative imaging in neurosurgery.