Technical maximalism refers to:

The tendency to apply the maximum available technology, tools, or surgical complexity to a clinical problem — regardless of whether such escalation improves outcomes, reduces risk, or respects the patient's context.

• Using exoscopes, fluorescence, intraoperative MRI, tubular retractors, and neuronavigation in every case, even when not clinically justified
• Equating complexity with quality
• Assuming that “more tech” = “better surgery”

“The lesion was small and asymptomatic, but they brought out the full armamentarium — classic case of technical maximalism.”

• Increased operative time, cost, and risk
• Erosion of clinical judgment
• Over-reliance on tools instead of anatomical understanding
• Loss of proportionality between intervention and benefit

• decorative neurosurgery
• clinical elegance
• academic theater

Synonyms: surgical overengineering, gadget-driven surgery, technophilic excess

Opposite: Technical restraint, appropriate complexity, outcome-guided practice