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Updated: Jul 6, 2026
04:04
Lateral Molar Approach-Driven Transoral Endoscopic Procedure for Benign Infratemporal Fossa Tumor Resection
Published on: August 15, 2025
Transoral approach to the craniovertebral junction
José Alberto Landeiro1, Sávio Boechat, Daniel de Holanda Christoph
1Hospital da Força Aérea do Galeão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Arquivos De Neuro-Psiquiatria
|March 18, 2008
Summary
The transoral approach offers safe ventral access for odontoidectomy in basilar invagination patients. This surgery effectively addresses ventral compression, improving neurological symptoms for most patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Basilar invagination can cause severe neurological deficits due to ventral compression at the craniovertebral junction.
- The transoral approach provides ventral access to the craniovertebral junction, enabling direct removal of impinging pathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical outcomes of odontoidectomy using the transoral approach in patients with basilar invagination.
- To assess the safety and efficacy of the transoral approach for managing ventral craniovertebral junction compression.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 38 patients who underwent transoral odontoidectomy for basilar invagination.
- Patients aged 34-67 years, with some having Chiari malformation or prior posterior surgery.
- Surgical indications included significant neurological deterioration, with symptoms like myelopathy and lower cranial nerve dysfunction.
Main Results:
- The transoral approach was beneficial for the majority of the 38 patients.
- Postoperative complications included pulmonary embolism (1 death), pneumonia (2), oronasal fistula (3), and cerebrospinal fluid leak (1).
- The approach provided direct access for odontoidectomy in cases of marked ventral compression.
Conclusions:
- The transoral approach is a safe and effective method for odontoidectomy in basilar invagination.
- It offers direct ventral access to the craniovertebral junction, crucial for relieving compression.
- While complications can occur, the benefits for neurological improvement are significant in carefully selected patients.
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