Neuroplastic Surgery

Neuroplastic surgery, also known as neuroplastic and reconstructive surgery, is a recently created surgical specialty, consisting of reconstruction or restoration processes in patients previously undergoing central or peripheral nervous system surgery. The branch includes a wide variety of surgical procedures aimed at restoring or replacing the skull, face, scalp, dura, spine, and/or overlying tissues.

The subcategory was created with the objective of uniting knowledge between neurosurgery and plastic surgery for the benefit of the total preservation or restoration of the patient's preoperative appearance, while providing a greater sense of self-confidence and better quality of life.

By Oxiris García.

Where have we reached now

Currently, plastic neurosurgery can be successfully applied in various branches of neurosurgery, among which are:

• Brain Tumor Surgery.

• Epilepsy Surgery.

• Hydrocephalus Surgery.

• Movement Disorders Surgery.

• Neurofibromatosis Surgery.

• Neurotrauma Surgery.

• Neurovascular Surgery.

• Scalp Tumor Surgery.

This has been achieved with the improvement of surgical techniques, so to date the most performed procedures in this specialty are Cranioplasty, Temporal Hollowing Repair, Removal of Neurofibroma Tumors, Complex Scalp Reconstruction, Craniofacial Approaches to brain tumors, Removal of skull and craniofacial tumors, Complex Approaches to the spine and spinal cord, Complex closures of the back following spine surgery, Ventricular Shunt Revision, Repair of Cerebrospinal Fluid leaks, Dural Reconstruction and Implantation of Functional Neural Devices.

Future scopes and newer advancements

The most up-to-date advances in the field of plastic neurosurgery have been described in more than 60 research publications in prestigious scientific journals, including descriptions of the first human surgeries with state-of-the-art cranial implants.

In the same way, various specific craniofacial implants, cranial implants with integrated functionality (for example, SMART cranial implants) have been patented.

In addition, novel computer-assisted/robot-assisted technologies have been developed.

On the other hand, in the future it is expected that this specialty will be recognized in most of the universities and hospitals worldwide to be included as a specialty and in the training curriculum in plastic surgery, neurosurgery and otorhinolaryngology residencies. Also, among the topics that are currently a challenge in the area and that are potential advances in the future are Multidisciplinary Collaboration, Military Head Trauma, Pericranial-onlay Cranioplasty technique, Implantable neurotechnology and Smart cranial Implants.