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