What question did this study set out to answer?

To introduce and assess the visuo-operative angle (VOA) for optimizing surgical approaches to irregular target areas in skull base corridors.

March 8, 2026

The visuo-operative angle: computational 3D assessment of surgical trajectories toward irregular target areas in skull base corridors

Key Points

To introduce and assess the visuo-operative angle (VOA) for optimizing surgical approaches to irregular target areas in skull base corridors.
Developed the visuo-operative angle as a geometrical metric.
Integrated the metric with photogrammetry and 3D-segmented imaging.
Compared various surgical corridors and approaches using the VOA.
The VOA offers additional directional detail beyond conventional metrics.
Early results indicate promising potential for accuracy and applicability in surgical contexts.
Further validation through larger cadaveric and clinical studies is required.

Abstract

The VOA is a simple, reproducible geometrical metric (in degrees) that relates the surgeon's line of sight and instrument path to the target plane, adding directional detail not captured by conventional metrics. Integrated with photogrammetry and 3D-segmented imaging, the VOA enables the quantitative comparison of corridors and approach variants, as well as supporting regional anatomy modeling. Early results are promising, but larger cadaveric series and multicase clinical studies are needed to establish the accuracy, robustness, and applicability of this metric across anatomical research, surgical planning, and intraoperative calculations.

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The visuo-operative angle: computational 3D assessment of surgical trajectories toward irregular target areas in skull base corridors

Key Points

Abstract

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