Raffaella Messina

Papers

Total Citations

243

H-Index

About

Raffaella Messina is a pioneering pediatric neurosurgeon whose work has significantly advanced the application of robotic technology in the field. Her research centers on robot-assisted neurosurgery, with a particular focus on improving the safety and precision of procedures for the most vulnerable patients—children. Dr. Messina’s major contributions include demonstrating the feasibility and enhanced accuracy of robotic systems in complex pediatric brain surgeries. Her landmark 2017 paper, "Robot-assisted procedures in pediatric neurosurgery," has garnered 173 citations, establishing a foundational framework for the field. In a highly impactful single-center study, she detailed the successful use of robot-assisted stereotactic biopsy for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a notoriously difficult-to-treat pediatric brainstem tumor. This work, cited 70 times, has been crucial in offering a safer, more reliable diagnostic pathway for this devastating disease. Through her innovative integration of robotics, Dr. Messina is not only refining surgical techniques but also expanding therapeutic possibilities, directly improving outcomes and quality of life for her young patients.