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Fundamentals of Neurosurgery pp 279–291Cite as

The Frontiers of Neurosurgery

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Abstract

Neurological surgery is a rapidly evolving medical field. Although relatively new, this medical specialty has experienced an unprecedented technological development. As we live the so-called fourth industrial revolution, neurosurgery seems to be following this revolution closely. It consists of robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, extensive study of epigenetics, tridimensional printing, big computer data, and automated machines, among others. This fascinating era has been reviewed in light of the fourth human revolution. The chapter is divided into various topics corresponding to different neurosurgical fields. Many recent advancements are presented, as well as what might be expected for doctors and patients. This chapter is based on current medical and technical literature, as we present today’s developments. Some topics allow us to predict what may be expected for us in the near future, since knowledge and technology have never developed so quickly.

Keywords

  • Technology
  • Medicine
  • Neurosurgery
  • Genetics
  • Epigenetics
  • Robotics in medicine
  • Nanotechnology
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Watson computer
  • Virtual reality
  • Medical and neurosurgical development

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Fig. 20.1

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Acknowledgement

The author would like to express his gratitute for the input and feedback from Dr. Robert F, Spetzler, from the Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Radiology, University Hospital- Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Mauro A. T. Ferreira

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  1. Mauro A. T. Ferreira
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery Division, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

    Dr. Andrei Fernandes Joaquim

  2. Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery Division, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

    Dr. Enrico Ghizoni

  3. Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery Division, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

    Dr. Helder Tedeschi

  4. Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Dr. Mauro Augusto Tostes Ferreira

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Ferreira, M.A.T. (2019). The Frontiers of Neurosurgery. In: Joaquim, A., Ghizoni, E., Tedeschi, H., Ferreira, M. (eds) Fundamentals of Neurosurgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-17649-5_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-17649-5_20

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