Definition of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery

Neurosurgeons treating disorders of brain function by inactivating or stimulating the nervous system often referred to as functional neurosurgeons. Early neurosurgeons performing procedures with a Stereotactic Frame (described later) were often referred to as Stereotactic or Stereotaxic neurosurgeons. The term Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgery has been associated with those neurosurgeons performing such procedures as deep brain stimulation (DBS).

More formally defined, "Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery is a branch of neurosurgery that utilizes dedicated structural and functional neuroimaging to identify and target discrete areas of the nervous system and to perform specific interventions (for example neuroablation, neurostimulation, neuromodulation, neurotransplantation, and others) using dedicated instruments and machinery in order to relieve a variety of symptoms of neurological and other disorders and to improve function of both the structurally normal and abnormal nervous system." (Blond, Broggi, Gildenberg, Hariz, Krauss, Lazorthes and Lozano).

Content developed under the former Director of the Neurosurgery Task Force of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society, Prof. Joachim K. Krauss (Direktor, Neurochirurgie, Zentrum Neurologische Medizin, Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover, Germany). Special recognition for developing this content and coordinating the project belongs to Dr. Karl Sillay, Dr. Kelly Foote, and Dr. Marwan I. Hariz.