The fronto-orbito-zygomatic approach with medial petrosectomy for intradural lesions

Intradural lesions anterior to the brain stem, in relation to the clivus. have long proved a difficult problem for the neurosurgeon in terms of access. The fronto-oribito-zygomatic approach with medial petrosectomy offers an alternative exposure for (hese lesions. It increases exposure for tumors of the clivus and increases the ability to obtain proximal control in low lying and giant basilar artery aneurysms through a more anterior view. To date. 23 patients have been operated on using this approach (12 aneurysms of the posterior circulation and 10 tumors). The most common complications experienced with this exposure were ipsilateral hearing loss accounting for 2 cases and facial nerve palsy accounting for 1 case.