Use of the Horsley-Clarke Stereotactic Frame in Humans

Abstract

It is well known that the Horsley-Clarke frame (HCF) was developed and engineered by the British physicians Robert Henry Clarke and Victor Horsley in 1906 for use in animals. It is less appreciated that the HCF was also used by the Frederic Gibbs group in 1947 for studies of human epileptics. Subcortical depth electrodes were placed using the relationship between external landmarks and intracranial structures and confirmed by pneumoencephalography. Events leading to the development of the HCF and its subsequent use in humans for depth recordings, and lesion production in the treatment of epilepsy, movement disorders, and psychosurgery are discussed.

Percutaneous laser discectomy guided with stereotactic computer‐assisted surgical navigation

“…coordinate system [35,36]. In the 1940s, individual cranial landmarks could be referenced to stereotactic guidance systems that resulted in the development of arc-based stereotactic frames such as that designed by Leksell in 1949 [37].…”

Imaging and printing in plastic and reconstructive surgery part 2: emerging techniques

“…10,11 The earliest system used external stereotactic frames fixed to the skull or other bony landmarks. 12 Modern frameless navigation systems using fiducial markers, 13 surface landmarks 14 and surface-matching laser registration 15 are faster, safer and more convenient. 16 As a result, stereotactic navigation is used routinely in neurosurgery, 17 spinal surgery, 18 orthopaedic surgery, 19 craniofacial surgery, 20 ear, nose and throat surgery 21 and endovascular surgery.…”

History of Neuropsychology Through Epilepsy Eyes

“…The HCF, which had been developed for animal use in 1906, was first used in humans at the University of Illinois in 1947 for depth electrode implantation (Jensen et al, 1995;Fig. 4).…”

“…The Montreal Neurological Institute of McGill University, co-founded by Penfield with William V. Cone (who introduced twist-drill techniques for biopsy and ventriculoperitoneal shunting techniques), opened in 1934 after a generous grant by the Rockefeller Foundation (Preul, Stratford, Bertrand, & Feindel, 1993). (Jensen et al, 1995). Fig.…”

“…1). Horsley also developed the first stereotactic head frame for use in animals with Robert Henry Clarke in 1906 (Horsley-Clarke frame [HCF]), which was used for electrode implantation many years later in 1947 at the University of Illinois (Jensen, Stone, & Hayne, 1995). Horsley also introduced bone wax to seal skull edges and developed the c-shaped or comma-shaped (rather than cruciform) incision, both of which promoted recovery and minimized infection.…”