Illustrated dynamic stories behind pediatric neurosurgery

BACKGROUND: The aim of this paper is to provide a depiction of the surgical technique and dynamic story behind the procedures in pediatric neurosurgery. METHODS: Five standard common pediatric neurosurgeries: endoscopic third ventriculostomy, fronto-orbital advancement for metopic and coronal craniosynostoses, posterior fossa craniotomy, strip craniectomy for sagittal craniosynostosis, and ventriculoperitoneal shunting were chosen to be exampled in illustrations. RESULTS: Surgical techniques were depicted in a step-by-step fashion with comic-like style of images. Illustrations enable to highlight specific surgical and anatomical features and also convey surgical procedures in a sequential order from beginning to end as if it is a story. CONCLUSION: Surgical illustrations may serve as an educational tool with potentially instructional value for practical application, especially for surgical trainees.