During the last years, the neuronavigation, also called image-guided surgery (IGS) or computer-assisted surgery (CAS), has had a tremendous impact improving the performance and safety in the neurosurgery. We can note that the neuronavigation systems use preoperative images, in general MRI images. However, during the operation the position of the tissues change and this phenomenon, called brain shift, is the dominant error in the procedure.

The objective of the preset investigation is to predict the brain shift, with the preoperative images, and using a fluid-structure interaction (FSI) model considering the skull, the cerebrospinal fluid and the brain in three different craniotomies. The differences between previous solid model and the FSI model are reported. The FSI in a complex model was used to validate the methodology. The FSI model can reduce the risk of the operation if the displacements are considered in the neuronavigation system.

FSI, brain shift, craniotomy.