HISTORY OF SPINAL-CORD STEREOTAXY

Stereotactic and functional neurosurgery has experienced a remarkable degree of development during the last 50 years, from the plaster of Pa ris frame of Spiegel and Wycis to the technology of frameless stereota xis. Although predominantly used for intracranial procedures, stereota xy has its roots in experimental studies of the spinal cord. The field of spinal cord stereotaxy has not received the same amount of attenti on as supratentorial surgery, but there have been significant contribu tions to the field that have helped to further our understanding of sp inal cord anatomy and physiology. Now that frameless stereotaxis has r eached clinical practice, there may be further developments in the fie ld of spinal surgery: this technique may prove useful for spinal fusio n operations and, possibly, intramedullary operations as well.