The role of variant anatomy in neurosurgery

Abstract

Variants of atypical structure and location of anatomical structures always complicate the course of surgical access and admission and are often the causes of surgical errors and complications. This article presents an overview of some features of variant anatomy in areas of interest to neurosurgeons, including those leading to the development of intraoperative problems and postoperative neurological deficits.The main message of the article is not only that neurosurgeons should plan surgery taking into account individual anatomical variability starting with the shape of the skull, but also that in cases of adverse perioperative events, atypical anatomy should be taken into account as an objective risk factor and have a mitigating value in the evaluation of the neurosurgeon’s performance.The aim of this paper is to present and analyse scientific publications on variant anatomy, determining its role in the development of surgical errors and complications in neurosurgery.