Subcortical Neurosurgery: Open and Parafascicular Channel-Based Approaches for Subcortical and Intraventricular Lesions

Access to subcortical lesions has been the topic of numerous surgical and technical innovations since the beginning of neurosurgery. The concept for this textbook evolved as a result of rapid innovation within the field of subcortical surgery, and the integrated efforts of numerous scientists, biomedical engineers, neurosurgeons, and industry partners who collectively defined the subcortical space as the “final frontier” of neurological surgery in need for more accurate, precise, and effective surgical innovation.
The wide assortment of techniques developed to navigate the inherent challenges presented by the multitude of etiologies encountered in the subcortical space and the idiosyncrasies related to their location within the parenchymal substance and ventricular system traditionally failed to recognize the immense complexity of the subcortical space, which has only been elucidated recently thanks to advances in neuro-imaging (particularly diffusion tensor imaging), neuro-navigation, functional neuro-anatomy, surgical instrumentation and technique, and refinement of indications and outcomes.