Journal of cranio-maxillo-facial surgery : official publication of the European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery
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J Craniomaxillofac Surg · Dec 2001
Comparative StudyImage guided surgical navigation for removal of foreign bodies in the head and neck.
The removal of foreign bodies in the head and neck area is often a surgical challenge due to a combination of difficult access and a close anatomical relationship of the foreign body to vital structures. Recent developments in computer-assisted surgery (CAS) have brought major improvements to the operating rooms for maxillofacial surgeons. The purpose of this paper is to report our experience in computer assisted removal of foreign bodies from the head and neck area, based on various clinical cases. ⋯ In our opinion, the use of a computer based image guided surgical system is of great benefit when removing foreign bodies from the head and neck area. The minimally invasive access helps to prevent major complications such as injury to vital structures and allows a quicker operation.