Oh, what a time to be alive! In an era where we can barely get our printers to work, neurosurgeons are casually using 3D virtual models for brain surgery prep. Because, you know, practicing on a virtual brain is just a tad more advanced than doodling on a napkin. These high-tech models, birthed from the oh-so-fancy Computer-aided design (CAD) of radiological images, are not just any models. They’re like the haute couture of neurosurgery – bespoke, luxurious, and apparently, a perfect fit for pre-operative planning.

So, here’s the scoop: Three neurosurgeons, from what must be the Hogwarts for brain wizards, decided to give these 3D virtual models a whirl for their neuro-oncological cases. And not just any cases, but the anatomically complex ones, because why start easy, right? After playing around with these virtual brains, the surgeons had a little chit-chat (a “face-to-face interview,” if you will) to spill the tea on how these models were the new MVPs of surgical planning.

And guess what? All three of them were like, “Yep, this is the real deal.” These virtual models were not just pretty to look at; they were like a GPS for the brain, helping surgeons navigate through the nooks and crannies, avoiding the “do not enter” zones, and basically making them feel like they had a rehearsal before the actual show. Plus, they were a hit in Multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings and with patients, making everyone feel like they were part of the cool kids’ club.

The moral of the story? 3D virtual models are not just a fancy fad. They’re like the Swiss Army knife for neurosurgeons – versatile, useful, and apparently, a game-changer for pre-surgical planning and patient education. And who knows? Maybe one day, they’ll be the standard for all surgical specialties. Until then, let’s just marvel at how neurosurgery is turning into a scene straight out of a sci-fi movie, with less of the alien invasions and more of the saving lives.