Skull base neurosurgery: an evolving 360° approach
The treatment of skull base pathologies has undergone profound changes in recent years. Today, therapeutic excellence is based on a “360-degree” approach , combining microsurgery, endoscopy and high-precision radiosurgery.
It is this integrated vision that defines the Skull Base 360° program, organized at the IRCAD (Strasbourg), a world reference center for advanced surgical training.
An exceptional program: Micro-Endo-Radiosurgery
The Skull Base 360-Degree curriculum offers an intensive 5-day immersion designed to push back the standards of neurosurgical practice. This unique program combines high-level theoretical instruction with in-depth surgical practice:
- 27 hours of hands-on workshops on anatomical specimens (dissections, keyhole approaches, assisted endonasal endoscopy)
- 3D surgical demonstrations for immersive anatomical understanding
- Advanced therapeutic strategies covering complex skull base pathologies: vestibular schwannomas (acoustic neuromas), meningiomas, chordomas, brainstem cavernomas and microvascular decompressions
Radiosurgery: the first pillar of precision
From day one, radiosurgery takes center stage in the program. It is no longer seen as a simple alternative, but as an indispensable partner in the surgical procedure.
An entire session is dedicated to new-generation radiation techniques:
- Equipment principles and developments: radiosurgery, proton therapy and carbon therapy
- Practical treatment planning workshops, confronting participants with clinical realities
- Specific indications for skull base injuries
Innovation at the patient’s service
Prof. Sébastien Froelich, internationally renowned neurosurgeon and course director, is the driving force behind the Zap-X project. His goal is clear: to fully integrate high-precision robotic radiosurgery into the modern neurosurgical arsenal, to guarantee safe, personalized care.
Expertise supported by world leaders
The program also benefits from the involvement of Dr François Nataf, whose expertise in radiosurgery contributes to the development of this approach within the Neurosurgery Department at Lariboisière Hospital, in collaboration with the radiotherapy teams at Saint-Louis Hospital and Hartmann Hospital (ELSAN Group).
Why does this approach change the game?
The “360°” approach taught at IRCAD demonstrates that Zap-X radiosurgery and micro-endoscopic approaches are not opposites: they complement each other. Knowing when to operate, when to irradiate, or how to combine the two is today the key to excellent neurosurgery.
By investing in training and breakthrough technologies, the Zap-X Radiosurgery site is part of this dynamic: offering millimetric precision while preserving patients’ quality of life.
” See the full program
” Professor Froelich’s Neurosurgery Department website
” Zap-X manufacturer’s website
