Robotic systems in cranial surgery: a systematic review of accuracy, clinical outcomes, and adverse events.
Alison E Burgess, Bailey D Lupo, Luke P Landry et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review examined robotic systems used in cranial neurosurgical procedures and their reported accuracy, clinical outcomes, and adverse events. Searches of PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase identified 51 studies published between January 2000 and February 2025; six robotic systems appeared in more than one study. Applications were concentrated in functional neurosurgery, with additional reports involving brain tumour biopsy or resection, haemorrhage drainage, and endoscopic procedures. The evidence was too heterogeneous for a planned meta-analysis comparing robotic modalities, so the review provides a descriptive overview rather than a pooled estimate of outcomes.
Key findings
- The review included 51 studies, and six robotic systems were discussed in more than one study.
- Robotic cranial procedures were reported mainly in functional neurosurgery.
- Other reported applications included brain tumour biopsy or resection, haemorrhage drainage, and endoscopic surgery.
- Heterogeneity in the available data prevented statistical comparison of outcomes across robotic modalities.
Why it matters
The review maps the current scope of robotic use in cranial surgery and shows that published experience is concentrated in functional procedures. For clinicians assessing the evidence, the lack of comparable data across systems and applications means that reported outcomes cannot be readily synthesised into a general estimate of benefit or risk.
What to keep in mind
The included studies were too heterogeneous for meta-analysis, limiting quantitative comparison of robotic modalities.