Papers
19
Total Citations
1,138
H-Index
18
About
Neil R. Crawford is a neurosurgeon and biomedical researcher whose work spans two distinct but complementary domains: advanced cranial surgical approaches and the rapidly evolving field of robotic-assisted spine surgery. His early contributions focused on optimizing cranial exposure techniques, most notably his 2007 description of the minipterional craniotomy, which has accumulated 168 citations and established a less invasive alternative to the traditional pterional approach. His cadaveric studies comparing surgical corridors to the fourth ventricle and basilar artery aneurysms further cemented his reputation as a meticulous anatomical investigator. Crawford's later research pivoted decisively toward robotic spine surgery, where he has become one of the field's most prolific voices. His extensive series of clinical and cadaveric studies evaluating pedicle screw accuracy with navigated robotic systems — collectively drawing hundreds of citations — have provided foundational evidence for the adoption of platforms such as the ExcelsiusGPS®. Notably, his work demonstrated that robotic assistance can reduce placement error regardless of surgeon experience level, with meaningful implications for surgical training. His 2020 narrative review synthesizing the current state of robotic minimally invasive surgery reflects his broad, forward-looking perspective on how technology is reshaping modern spinal care.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1THE MINIPTERIONAL CRANIOTOMY168 citations · 2007
- 2Robotic Spine Surgery: Current State in Minimally Invasive Surgery99 citations · 2020
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10