Dr. med. univ. Franziska Schmidt

Dr. med. univ. Franziska Schmidt ist Fachärztin für Neurochirurgie und verantwortlich für den Bereich Stereotaxie und Funktionelle Neurochirurgie.

Ihre Facharztausbildung absolvierte sie an der Medizinische Universität Innsbruck. Im Rahmen ihres Neuroscience-PhD-Studiums forscht sie zum Thema „The Use of Augmented Reality as an Educational Tool in Minimally Invasive Surgery“ und beschäftigt sich dabei mit dem innovativen Einsatz von Augmented Reality in der minimalinvasiven Chirurgie.

Von 2018 bis 2020 war sie als Research Fellow an der Weill Cornell University in New York, USA, tätig. Weitere internationale Spezialisierungen absolvierte sie im Rahmen eines Functional Neurosurgery Fellowships am Toronto Western Hospital (2024–2025) sowie an der University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Kanada (2023–2024).

Seit 2026 ist Dr. Schmidt Teil des Advanced Clinician Scientist Programms. Ihr aktueller Forschungsschwerpunkt liegt auf der Untersuchung inflammatorischer Biomarker zur Vorhersage des Therapieerfolgs bei der Tiefenhirnstimulation.

Stereotaxie und Funktionelle Neurochirurgie

Förderung 

2025 - 2031: iIMMUNE_ACS (BMFTR, 01EO2105)

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Forschungsprojekte

ACS Projekt: Untersuchung entzündlicher Biomarker zur Vorhersage des Behandlungserfolgs bei Tiefer Hirnstimulation

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Publikationen

Loh A, Mangra S, Schmidt FA, Fumagalli M, Cohn M, Yang A, Boutet A, Lang S, Sankar T, Fasano A, Hodaie M, Kalia S, Germann J, Lozano A, Hippocampal Volume Changes After STN Deep Brain Stimulation Mirrors Parkinson’s Disease Progression. 2026. submitted

Hu C, Mohammed W, Bai Y, Schmidt FA, Rodrigues T, Kalia S, Fasano A, Germann J, Alcaide-Leon P, Boutet A, Lozano A. Limited Predictive Value of Preoperative Nigrosome Integrity for Motor Outcomes in Parkinson’s Disease Deep Brain Stimulation, npj Parkinson's Disease, 2025

Bichsel O, Bacchi S, Hajiabadi M, Schmidt FA, Stieglitz L. The effect of beta-neurofeedback on beta-bursts in Parkinson’s disease patients as evidenced through deep brain recordings. Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology. 2025

Schmidt FA, Germann J, Hajiabadi M, Bichsel O, Sarica C, Lozano A, Disparities in Access to Deep Brain Stimulation. Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery. 2025

Buongermini R, Bichsel O, Cabrera-Montes J, Mueller M, Yang A, SchmidtFA, Germann J, Boutet A, Lozano A, Safety of MRgFUS in patients with coagulation disorders. JNS case lessons. 2025

Schmidt FA, Germann J, Hajiabadi M, Bichsel O, Lozano A. MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound Lesioning under General Anesthesia. SFN. 2025    

Sarica C, Yamamoto K, Iorio-Morin C, German J, Yang A, Santyr B, Colditz M, Vetkas A, Fomenko A, Davidson B, Cortez Grippe T, Samuel N, Zemmar A, Schmidt FA, Flouty O, Cheyuo C, Darmani G, Chen R, Boutet A, Neudorfer C, Hodaie M, Kalia S, Munhoz R, Fasano A, Lozano A. Bilateral Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy versus Deep Brain Stimulation in Essential Tremor: Insights from Advanced Neuroimaging Mapping and Thalamotomy Classification. Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery. Movement Disorders. 2025

Davidson B, Schmidt FA, Bichsel O, Hadjiabadi H, Lozano A. Focused Ultrasound: A Transformative Tool for Intracranial Ablation, Drug Delivery, and Neuromodulation. Biomedical Engineering. 2025                                                                                                               

Faran M, Pietramala D, Schmidt FA, Polyhronopoulos NE, Sandhu MK, Dong J, Sarai N, Honey CR, Lang S. Sex Disparity in Parkinson’s Disease Patients Undergoing Deep Brain Stimulation. JNS. 2025

Ong K, Schmidt FA, Tosefsky K, Faran M, Sarcia C, Honey C, Vila-Rodriguez F, Lang S. Non-motor effects of low-frequency deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus in Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review. 2024

Schmidt FA, Schoen V, Petr O, Freyschlag CF, Thomé C. Subgaleal Drainage with One Burr-hole for Chronic Subdural Hematomas: Our 2-Years’ Experience. Brain and Spine. 2024

Schmidt FA, Pietramala DA, Honey CR, Heran MKS. Cordotomy under General Anesthesia for a Pediatric Palliative Patient: A Case Report and Proof of Concept. JNS case lessons. 2024

Schmidt FA, Freyschlag CF, Grams AE, Thome C. Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization for Recurrent Subdural Hematoma in an Extra-Intracranial Anastomosis Patient on Anticoagulant Medication: A Case Report. Science Progress. 2024

Schmidt FA, Hussain I, Boadi B, Sommer FJ, Thome C, Härtl R. The Use of Augmented Reality as an Educational Tool in Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion. Operative Neurosurgery. 2024

Ho WM, Schmidt FA, Thomé C, Petr O. CSF Metabolomic Alterations After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage – What We Know? Acta Neurologica Belgica. 2023

Schmidt FA, Nangunoori R, Wong T, Kirnaz S, Anand N, Härtl R. The Rise and Fall of a Surgical Technique: AxiaLIF. AANS Neurosurgeon. 2020

Schmidt FA, Navarro-Ramirez R, Chang L, Kirnaz S, Wipplinger C, Hartl R. Neural decompression in challenging cases: advantages and disadvantages. Journal of Neurosurgical Sciences. 2019 

Hussain I, Schmidt FA, Kirnaz S, Wipplinger C, Schwartz T, Härtl R. MIS approaches in the cervical spine. Journal of Spine surgery. 2019 

Schmidt FA, Lekuya H, Kirnaz S, Hernandez RN, Hussain I, Chang L, Wipplinger C, Rawanduzy C, Härtl R. Novel MIS 3D NAV single step pedicle screw system (SSPSS): workflow, accuracy and initial clinical experience. Global Spine Journal. 2020

Schmidt FA, Mullally M, Lohmann M, Hiepe P, Kirnaz S, Chidambaram S, Wipplinger C, Härtl R. Elastic image fusion software to co-register preoperatively planned pedicle screws with intraoperative CT data for image guided spinal surgery. International Journal of Spine Surgery. 2021 

Schmidt FA, Kirnaz S, Wipplinger C, Kuzan-Fischer CM, Härtl R, Hoffman C. Review of the Highlights from the First Annual Global Neurosurgery 2019: A Practical Symposium. World Neurosurgery. 2019

Schmidt FA, Wong T, Kirnaz S, Taboada N, Assaker R, Hofstetter C, Kim J, Parajon A, Taylor P, Assous M, Härtl R. Development of MISS curriculum. Global Spine Journal. 2020

Wong T, Kirnaz S, Hussain I, Schmidt F, Patel A, Goldberg J, Sommer F, Nangunoori R, Härtl R. Prevalence of Long-term Low Back Pain After Symptomatic Lumbar Disc Herniation, World Neurosurgery, 2023

Sommer FJ, Hussain I, Kirnaz S, Goldberg JL, Navarro-Ramirez R, McGarth J, Schmidt FA, Medary B, Gadjradj P, Härtl R. Augmented Reality to Improve Surgical Workflow in Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion – A Feasibility Study With Case Series. Neurospine. 2022

Sommer FC, Schmidt FA, Härtl R. Safety and Feasibility of AR Assistance in MIS and Open Resection of Benign Intradural Extramedullary Tumors. Neurospine. 2022. 10.14245/ns.2244222.111

Sommer FJ, Hussain I, Kirnaz S, Goldberg J, McGrath L, Schmidt FA, Medary B, Gadjraj P, Härt R. Augmented Reality to Improve Surgical Workflow in minimally invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion with Total Navigation. Journal of Neurosurgery. 2022

Sommer FJ, McGrath L, Kirnaz S, Goldberg J, Medary B, Schmidt FA, Shttayer L, Hartl R. Lumbar Giant Disc Herniations Treated with Unilateral Approach for Bilateral Decompression. Operative Neurosurgery. 2022

Sommer FJ, Kirnaz S, Goldberg J, McGrath Ly, Schmidt FA, Medary B, Hartl R. Safety and feasibility of DTRAX® cervical cages in the atlantoaxial joint for C1/2 stabilization. Operative Neurosurgery. 2022

Kirnaz S, Gebhard H, Wong T, Nangunoori R, Schmidt FA, Sato K, Härtl R. Intraoperative image guidance for cervical spine surgery. Ann Transl Med. 2021

Kirnaz S, Schmidt FA, Wipplinger C, Wong T, Nangunoori R, Härt R. Less Invasive Cervical Decompression via Unilateral Tubular Laminotomy using 3-Dimensional Total Navigation. Operative Neurosurgery. 2020

Mangat H, Wu X, Gerber L, Shabani H, Lazaro A, Leidinger A, Santos M, McClelland P, Schenck H, Joackim P, Ngerageza J, Schmidt FA, Stieg P, Härtl R. Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Management In Tanzania: Analysis of a prospective cohort. Journal of Neurosurgery. 2021

Kirnaz S, Schmidt FA, Härtl R. Minimally Invasive Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy Using 3-Dimensional Total Navigation. Operative Neurosurgery. 2021 

Hanz SZ, Arko L, Schmidt FA, Kacker A, Tsiouris AJ, Anand VK, Schwartz TH. Low incidence of true Sternberg’s canal defects among lateral sphenoid sinus encephaloceles. Acta Neurochirurgica. 2020

Kirnaz S, Wipplinger C, Schmidt FA, Hernandez RN, Hussain I, Härtl R. Minimally Invasive Laminotomy for Contralateral “Over the Top” Foraminal Decompression using 3D Total Navigation. Operative Neurosurgery. 2020

Kirnaz S, Wipplinger C, Wong T, Schmidt FA, Nangunoori R, Härtl R. Less Invasive Cervical Decompression via Unilateral Tubular Laminotomy Using 3-Dimensional Total Navigation: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2020 

Bonassar L, Pannellini T, Sloan S, Wipplinger C, Kirnaz S, Navarro-Ramirez R, Schmidt FA, McCloskey D, Schiavinato A, Härtl R. Combined Nucleus Pulposus Augmentation and Annulus Fibrosus Repair to Prevent Acute Intervertebral Disc Degeneration after Discectomy. Science Translational Medicine. 2020

Nangunoori R, Wong T, Schmidt FA, Kirnaz S, Härtl R. Role of Navigation in Spine Surgery. The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. 2023

Wipplinger C, Kim E, Lener S, Navarro R, Kirnaz S, Melcher C, Hernandez RN, Schmidt FA, Härtl R. Tandem Microscopic Slalom Technique – The use of 2 microscopes simultaneously performing unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression in multilevel lumbar spinal stenosis. Global Spine Journal. 2020 

Kirnaz S, Navarro R, Wipplinger C, Hussain I, Kim E, Schmidt FA, Härtl R. Indirect decompression failure after lateral lumbar interbody fusion: Reported failure and predictive factors; systematic review. Global Spine Journal. 2020

Lener S, Hernandez RN, Wipplinger C, Hussain I, Kirnaz S, Navarro R, Schmidt FA, Kim E, Härtl R. Defining the MIS-TLIF: a systematic review of techniques used by surgeons worldwide. Global Spine Journal. 2020

Hussain I, Cosar M, Kirnaz S, Schmidt FA, Wipplinger C, Wong T, Härtl R. Evolving Navigation, Robotics, and Augmented Reality in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. Global Spine Journal. 2020

Marcus N, Schmidt FA. Soft Tissue: A Possible Source of Pain Pre and Post Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Global Spine Journal. Global Spine Journal. 2020

Hernandez RN, Wipplinger C, Navarro-Ramirez R, Patsalides A, Tsiouris AJ, Stieg PE, Kirnaz S, Schmidt FA, Härtl R. Bow Hunter Syndrome with Associated Pseudoaneurysm. World Neurosurgery. 2019 

Rienmuller AC, Krieg SM, Schmidt FA, Meyer EL, Meyer B. Reoperation rates and risk factors for revision 4 years after dynamic stabilization of the lumbar spine. Spine. 2019

Hernandez RN, Wipplinger C, Navarro-Ramirez R, Soriano-Solis S, Kirnaz S, Hussain I, Schmidt FA, Soriano-Sánchez JA, Härtl R. Ten-Step Minimally Invasive Cervical Decompression via Unilateral Tubular Laminotomy: Technical Note and Early Clinical Experience. Operative Neurosurgery. 2020 

Kirnaz S, Navarro-Ramirez R, Wipplinger C, Schmidt FA, Hussain I, Kim E, et al. Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion using 3-Dimensional Total Navigation: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. Operative Neurosurgery. 2020

Wipplinger C, Melcher C, Hernandez RN, Lener S, Navarro-Ramirez R, Kirnaz S, Schmidt FA, Kim E, Härtl R. "One and a half" minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion: single level transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion with adjacent segment unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression for spondylolisthesis with bisegmental stenosis. Journal of Spine Surgery. 2018 

Wipplinger C, Simian A, Hernandez RN, Navarro-Ramirez R, Kim E, Kirnaz S, Schmidt FA, Fink ME, Härtl R. Superficial Siderosis of Central Nervous System as Primary Clinical Manifestation Secondary to Intradural Thoracic Disk Herniation. World Neurosurgery. 2018 

Kerschbaumer J, Schmidt FA, Grams AE, Nowosielski M, Pinggera D, Brawanski KR, Petr O, et al. Dual Anti-Angiogenic Chemotherapy with Temozolomide and Celecoxib in Selected Patients with Malignant Glioma Not Eligible for Standard Treatment. Anticancer Research. 2015