The Supraorbital Approach

The approaches for skull base lesions should allow excellent visualization, minimized working distance and avoid brain retraction. We consider the supraorbital approachto be the approach of choice for orbital, anterior and middle cranial fossae lesions. Thetechnique of procedure is described and reviewed its advantages.

the authors reviewed the eleven cases which were operated bysupraorbital approach and one case which were operated by supraorbital bifrontal approach,from May 1992 to May 1996.

Eleven patients(four cases of tuberculum sellae meningiomas, one case of pituitarymacroadenoma, two case of suprasellar germinoma, one case of cavernous hemangioma in theorbit, two cases of huge size of craniopharyngiomas, one case of optie and oculomotor nervepalsy due to compound fiacture of orbit) were cured or improved with the supraorrbtal andsupraorbito-bifrontal approsch. But one case of suprasellar germinoma died.

The supraorbital approach is preferred in lesions of orbital, anterior and middlecranial fossae, because it minimize brain retraction, shorten the distance of the target of lesionsand provide multiple pathways for dissection of the lesions. Also this approach may combinewith other skull base approaches.