The work horse of skull base surgery: orbitozygomatic approach. Technique, modifications, and applications

Abstract

The orbitozygomatic approach provides access to the anterior and middle cranial fossae as well as the deep sellar and basilar apex regions. Increased bone removal from the skull base obviates the need for vigorous brain retraction and offers an improved multiangled trajectory and shallower operative field. Modifications to the orbitozygomatic approach provide alternatives that can be tailored to particular lesions, enabling the surgeon to use the best technique in each individual case rather than a "one size fits all" approach.