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Can anatomical feasibility studies drive neurosurgical procedures and reach patients faster than traditional translational research?

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Abstract

Often, surgical techniques are practiced and studied in the anatomy laboratory. Occasionally, new surgical methods are developed with cadaveric anatomical studies. Some cadaveric feasibility studies, if published, might go on to be used by surgeons from around the world for improved patient care. Herein, we review our experience with 37 published anatomical feasibility studies over an 18-year period (2002–2020) and analyze the literature for published examples of surgical application of these same anatomical studies. We found that, for cadaveric anatomical feasibility studies within 7 years of their publication date, approximately 22% will be used in neurosurgery with the clinical applications published. Of these studies awarded clinical citation within 7 years of publication, the median time to that citation was approximately 3.4 years. As the average time for translational research to reach patient care is 17 years, cadaveric anatomical studies in this series reached patient care much sooner than traditional translational research. Cadaveric anatomical studies, based on our experience, can drive neurosurgical procedures.

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Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank those who donated their bodies to science so that anatomical research could be performed. Results from such research can potentially increase mankind’s overall knowledge that can then improve patient care. Therefore, these donors and their families deserve our highest gratitude [51].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, 131 S. Robertson St. Suite 1300, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA

    Joe Iwanaga, Nicole A. Boggio, Aaron S. Dumont & R. Shane Tubbs

  2. Department of Structural & Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Joe Iwanaga & R. Shane Tubbs

  3. Division of Gross and Clinical Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan

    Joe Iwanaga

  4. Department of Neurosurgery and Ochsner Neuroscience Institute, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA, USA

    C. J. Bui & R. Shane Tubbs

  5. Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George’s University, St. George’s, Grenada

    R. Shane Tubbs

  6. Department of Neurology, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs

  7. Department of Surgery, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs

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  1. Joe Iwanaga
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  5. R. Shane Tubbs
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Correspondence to Joe Iwanaga.

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Iwanaga, J., Boggio, N.A., Bui, C.J. et al. Can anatomical feasibility studies drive neurosurgical procedures and reach patients faster than traditional translational research?. Neurosurg Rev 45, 891–896 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-021-01626-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-021-01626-x

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