Robotics in Skull-Base Surgery

This book is the first book in the field of robotics in skull-base surgery. It uncovers the pioneering realm of robotics in skull-base surgery through this remarkable compendium. With a comprehensive exploration from neurosurgical and otolaryngological perspectives, it delves into the diverse applications of robotics, accompanied by a thorough literature review.


The chapters run the gamut from using robotics for approaches to the anterior and lateral skull base to using this technology for more specific approaches such as transoral methods and radiosurgery.


The major advantage of this work is its organization and systematic delivery of information, which makes it a reliable and comprehensible source for the medical professional. It is a 'go-to' resource for all researchers, clinicians, and medical doctors who are interested in the most recent trends in robotics in skull-base in Neurosurgery and ENT surgery.

Dr. Mohammed Maan Al-Salihi is a medical doctor from Iraq, currently working at the Department of Neurosurgery at Wisconsin University. Published many papers in international peer-reviewed neurosurgical journals, editor of the books published by Springer 'Pineal Neurosurgery' and 'Introduction to Robotics in Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery'. Apart from these publications, Mohammed has devised many research courses for neurosurgical residents in Iraq at the Neurosurgery Teaching Hospital. Also, he works as a reviewer in various international peer-reviewed neurological journals. Mohammed was the first Iraqi medical student to publish a neurosurgical paper and the first to edit a book published by a prestigious publishing company. He has authored the chapter 'Evolutionary Retrace of the Third Eye' and explored the evolutionary background of the pineal gland, emphasizing the 'why' rather than the 'how', trying to understand how this organ first appeared and why it has attained its current status. Mohammed is the editor of the first book that discusses robotics in Neurosurgery in a systematic, well-organized, specialty-based manner.

Prof. Ali Ayyad is a Senior consultant neurosurgeon currently working at Hamad General Hospital Doha, Qatar. He is also an Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at Saarland University, Homburg-Germany, and editor of the 'Introduction to Robotics in Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery' book which is published by Springer. His interests encompass skull base, cerebrovascular, minimally invasive neurosurgery, and Neuro endoscopy. Professor Ayyad holds the portfolio of Director of Research at the Department of Neurosurgery in Hamad General Hospital Doha. He has to his credit, a number of publications in leading neurosurgical journals and has also coauthored multiple book chapters. He has been invited as distinguished faculty to numerous regional and international conferences and his services as a neurosurgery instructor and tutor at a plethora of workshops including micro neurosurgery and neuro endoscopy speak volumes of his keen interest as an educationist in neurosurgery.

Prof. R. Shane Tubbs is a clinical anatomist who practiced in pediatric neurosurgery at the Children's Hospital in Birmingham for 25 years. His research interests are centered around what his lab has termed 'reverse translational anatomy research', where clinical/surgical problems are identified and addressed via anatomical studies. This investigative paradigm has resulted in over 1,600 peer reviewed publications. Dr. Tubbs' lab has made novel discoveries in human anatomy and many anatomical feasibility studies from his lab have been used by surgeons around the world. He has been a visiting professor to major institutions in the U.S. and worldwide. He has authored/edited over 50 books including Gray's Anatomy Review, Gray's Clinical Photographic Dissector of the Human Body, Netter's Introduction to Clinical Procedures, Anatomy for Plastic Surgery of the Face, Head, and Neck, Nerves and Nerve Injuries, A History of Human Anatomy, and Bergman's Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation. He is an editor for the 41st and 42nd editions of Gray's Anatomy and the 5th through 7th editions of Netter's Atlas of Human Anatomy, and is editor-in-chief of Clinical Anatomy, the official journal of the American and British Associations of Clinical Anatomists. Dr. Tubbs was recently named chair of the Federative International Programme on Anatomical Terminologies.

Prof. Dr. med. Joachim Oertel, MD began his career in 1989 by studying medicine at the Hannover Medical School and at the Harvard Medical School in Boston. After internship in Munich and Hannover and receiving his doctor's degree, he began working at the Neurosurgical Department at the Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Greifswald. After completing residency he moved to Hannover where he received his habilitation at the Hannover Medical school and became member of the faculty of medicine at the Hannover Medical School in 2005. In 2006, he was appointed Vice Director of the Department of Neurosurgery at the Nordstadtkrankenhaus, Hannover. In 2008, he became Vice Chairman of the department of Neurosurgery at the University Hospital Mainz, acting as chairman for 5 months in 2010. In December 1, 2010, Prof. Dr. med. Joachim Oertel was appointed as a Full Professor and Head of the Department of Adult and Pediatric Neurosurgery at the University Hospital Saarland and the faculty of medicine Saarland University. In 2020, he was Laureate at the Ginde Oration of the Bombay Hospital Trust, India.  Prof. Oertel has published more than 200 papers in almost all the fields of Neurosurgery and he had authored more than 30 book chapters.