Neurosurgical procedure classification

Neurosurgical procedures are broadly classified based on the anatomical region, purpose, or type of intervention. Here’s an organized classification:

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### 1. Based on Anatomical Region #### a. Cranial Procedures

  1. Craniotomy: Surgical opening of the skull (e.g., tumor resection, aneurysm clipping).
  2. Craniectomy: Removal of a portion of the skull, often for decompression.
  3. Stereotactic Procedures: Image-guided interventions (e.g., biopsy, deep brain stimulation).
  4. Ventricular Surgery: Insertion of shunts, third ventriculostomy.
  5. Epilepsy Surgery: Lobectomies (e.g., temporal lobectomy), lesionectomy.
  6. Trauma Management: Evacuation of hematomas (subdural, epidural), skull fracture repair.

#### b. Spinal Procedures

  1. Decompressive Surgery: Laminectomy, foraminotomy.
  2. Stabilization Surgery: Spinal fusion, instrumentation.
  3. Disk Surgery: Discectomy, microdiscectomy.
  4. Tumor Resection: Removal of intramedullary, intradural-extramedullary, or extradural tumors.

#### c. Peripheral Nerve Surgery

  1. Decompression: Carpal tunnel release, ulnar nerve decompression.
  2. Nerve Repair/Transfer: Post-trauma or injury reconstruction.
  3. Tumor Resection: Schwannomas, neurofibromas.

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### 2. Based on Purpose #### a. Diagnostic

  1. Biopsy: Tissue sampling for pathology (stereotactic or open).
  2. Endoscopy: Neuroendoscopy for ventricular or skull base visualization.

#### b. Therapeutic

  1. Tumor Resection: Benign or malignant.
  2. Aneurysm Repair: Clipping or coiling (with interventional radiology).
  3. Functional Surgery: Deep brain stimulation (DBS), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).
  4. Trauma: Hematoma evacuation, decompressive craniectomy.

#### c. Palliative

  1. Cordotomy: For intractable pain.
  2. CSF Diversion: Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt for hydrocephalus.

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### 3. Based on Intervention Type #### a. Open Surgery

  1. Craniotomy.
  2. Spinal laminectomy.

#### b. Minimally Invasive

  1. Endoscopic procedures.
  2. Keyhole craniotomies.

#### c. Image-Guided

  1. Stereotactic radiosurgery (e.g., Gamma Knife, CyberKnife).
  2. Stereotactic biopsy.

#### d. Robotic-Assisted

  1. Robotic trajectory planning for tumor or seizure focus ablation.

#### e. Endovascular

  1. Embolization of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).
  2. Aneurysm coiling.

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### 4. Based on Disease Type #### a. Tumors

  1. Gliomas, meningiomas, metastases.
  2. Pituitary adenomas (via transsphenoidal approach).

#### b. Vascular Disorders

  1. Aneurysms, AVMs, dural arteriovenous fistulas.
  2. Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke management.

#### c. Degenerative Disorders

  1. Lumbar/cervical stenosis.
  2. Herniated discs.

#### d. Functional Disorders

  1. Parkinson’s disease: Deep brain stimulation.
  2. Epilepsy: Temporal lobectomy, responsive neurostimulation (RNS).

#### e. Trauma

  1. Acute epidural, subdural, or intraparenchymal hemorrhage evacuation.

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### 5. Special Techniques #### a. Skull Base Surgery

  1. For lesions at the base of the skull (e.g., clival chordomas, acoustic neuromas).

#### b. Pediatric Neurosurgery

  1. Chiari malformation decompression.
  2. Surgery for congenital disorders (e.g., spina bifida repair).

#### c. Neuroendoscopy

  1. Third ventriculostomy, colloid cyst removal.

Non-invasive Neurosurgical procedure

Non-invasive Neurosurgical procedure