Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1247504
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York
The Supraorbital Craniotomy for Access to the Skull Base and Intraaxial Lesions: A Technique in Evolution
Publication History
Publication Date:
07 April 2010 (online)

Abstract
Introduction: The supraorbital craniotomy was initially described as a minimally invasive means to target extra-axial lesions in the anterior cranial fossa and sellar/parasellar region. Since its initial description, various modifications have been described. We report our recent experience with this approach (and its modifications) for not only extra-axial but also intra-axial neoplastic pathology.
Methods: Based on patient pathology and anatomic considerations, one of two approaches was performed: supraorbital craniotomy through an eyebrow incision or a combined orbital osteotomy and supraorbital craniotomy through an eyelid incision.
Results: This technique was performed on twenty-eight consecutive patients. Intra-axial pathology ranged from anaplastic astrocytoma to metastasis while extra-axial lesions included meningiomas and skull-based metastases. Excellent lesion resection was achieved in the majority of patients. Complications were infection (2 patients) and CSF leak.
Discussion: The supraorbital craniotomy and its modifications provide an ideal anterior subfrontal approach through which a wide variety of pathology can be approached. This technique has particular considerations in comparison to traditional cranial base approaches that must be taken into account before it is utilized.
Key words
supraorbital approach - orbital ridge osteotomy - skull base
References
- 1 
            Sanchez-Vazquez MA, Barrera-Calatayud P, Mejia-Villela M. et al .
            Transciliary subfrontal craniotomy for anterior skull base lesions. 
            Technical note. J Neurosurg. 
            1999; 
            91 
            892-896 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 2 
            Reisch R, Perneczky A. 
            Ten-year experience with the supraorbital subfrontal approach through an eyebrow skin
            incision. 
            Neurosurgery. 
            2005; 
            57 
            242-255 
            ; discussion 255 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 3 
            Jho HD. 
            Orbital roof craniotomy via an eyebrow incision: a simplified anterior skull base
            approach. 
            Minim Invas Neurosurg. 
            1997; 
            40 
            91-97 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 4 
            Cohen AR, Perneczky A, Rodziewicz GS. et al .
            Endoscope-assisted craniotomy: approach to the rostral brain stem. 
            Neurosurgery. 
            1995; 
            36 
            1128-1129 
            ; discussion 1129–1130 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 5 
            Ramos-Zuniga R, Velazquez H, Barajas MA. et al .
            Trans-supraorbital approach to supratentorial aneurysms. 
            Neurosurgery. 
            2002; 
            51 
            125-130 
            ; discussion 130–131 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 6 
            Menovsky T, Grotenhuis JA, de Vries J. et al .
            Endoscope-assisted supraorbital craniotomy for lesions of the interpeduncular fossa. 
            Neurosurgery. 
            1999; 
            44 
            106-110 
            ; discussion 110–102 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 7 
            Tubbs RS, Loukas M, Shoja MM. et al .
            Emergency transorbital ventricular puncture: refinement of external landmarks. 
            J Neurosurg. 
            2009; 
            108 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 8 
            Menovsky T, De Vries J, Wurzer JA. et al .
            Intraoperative ventricular puncture during supraorbital craniotomy via an eyebrow
            incision. 
            Technical note. J Neurosurg. 
            2006; 
            105 
            485-486 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 9 
            Wilson DH. 
            Limited exposure in cerebral surgery. 
            Technical note. J Neurosurg. 
            1971; 
            34 
            102-106 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 10 
            Brock M, Dietz H. 
            The small frontolateral approach for the microsurgical treatment of intracranial aneurysms. 
            Neurochirurgia Acta (Stuttg). 
            1978; 
            21 
            185-191 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 11 
            Ramos-Zuniga R. 
            The trans-supraorbital approach. 
            Minim Invas Neurosurg. 
            1999; 
            42 
            133-136 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 12 
            Andaluz N, Romano A, Reddy LV. et al .
            Eyelid approach to the anterior cranial base. 
            J Neurosurg. 
            2008; 
            109 
            341-346 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 13 
            Dare AO, Landi MK, Lopes DK. et al .
            Eyebrow incision for combined orbital osteotomy and supraorbital minicraniotomy: application
            to aneurysms of the anterior circulation. 
            Technical note. J Neurosurg. 
            2001; 
            95 
            714-718 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 14 
            Jallo GI, Bognar L. 
            Eyebrow surgery: the supraciliary craniotomy: technical note. 
            Neurosurgery. 
            2006; 
            59 
            ONSE 
            157-158 
            ; discussion ONS E157–158 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 15 
            Jallo GI. 
            Eyebrow surgery. 
            J Neurosurg Pediatr. 
            2008; 
            1 
            144 
            ; author reply 144 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 16 
            Al-Mefty O, Ayoubi S, Kadri PA. 
            The petrosal approach for the resection of retrochiasmatic craniopharyngiomas. 
            Neurosurgery. 
            2008; 
            62 
            ONS 
            331-335 
            ; discussion ONS 335–336 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 17 
            Al-Mefty O, Ayoubi S, Kadri PA. 
            The petrosal approach for the total removal of giant retrochiasmatic craniopharyngiomas
            in children. 
            J Neurosurg. 
            2007; 
            106 
            87-92 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 18 
            Figueiredo EG, Deshmukh P, Zabramski JM. et al .
            The pterional-transsylvian approach: an analytical study. 
            Neurosurgery. 
            2008; 
            62 
            1361-1367 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 19 
            Figueiredo EG, Deshmukh P, Zabramski JM. et al .
            The pterional-transsylvian approach: an analytical study. 
            Neurosurgery. 
            2006; 
            59 
            ONS 
            263-269 
            ; discussion ONS 269 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 20 
            Andaluz N, van Loveren HR, Keller JT. et al .
            The one-piece orbitopterional approach. 
            Skull Base. 
            2003; 
            13 
            241-245 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 21 
            Bognar L, Czirjak S, Madarassy G. 
            Frontolateral keyhole craniotomy through a superciliary skin incision in children. 
            Childs Nerv Syst. 
            2003; 
            19 
            765-768 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 22 
            Czirjak S, Szeifert GT. 
            Surgical experience with frontolateral keyhole craniotomy through a superciliary skin
            incision. 
            Neurosurgery. 
            2001; 
            48 
            145-149 
            ; discussion 149–150 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 23 
            Delashaw Jr JB, Tedeschi H, Rhoton AL. 
            Modified supraorbital craniotomy: technical note. 
            Neurosurgery. 
            1992; 
            30 
            954-956 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 24 
            Schwartz MS, Anderson GJ, Horgan MA. et al .
            Quantification of increased exposure resulting from orbital rim and orbitozygomatic
            osteotomy via the frontotemporal transsylvian approach. 
            J Neurosurg. 
            1999; 
            91 
            1020-1026 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 25 
            Figueiredo EG, Deshmukh V, Nakaji P. et al .
            An anatomical evaluation of the mini-supraorbital approach and comparison with standard
            craniotomies. 
            Neurosurgery. 
            2006; 
            59 
            ONS 
            212-220 
            ; discussion ONS 220 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 26 
            Czirjak S, Szeifert GT. 
            The role of the superciliary approach in the surgical management of intracranial neoplasms. 
            Neurol Res. 
            2006; 
            28 
            131-137 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 27 
            Fernandes YB, Maitrot D. et al .
            Supraorbital minicraniotomy. 
            Skull Base Surg. 
            1997; 
            7 
            65-68 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 28 
            Jane JA, Park TS, Pobereskin LH. et al .
            The supraorbital approach: technical note. 
            Neurosurgery. 
            1982; 
            11 
            537-542 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 29 
            Langsdon PR, Knipe TA, Whatley WS. et al .
            Transconjunctival approach to the zygomatico-frontal limb of orbitozygomatic complex
            fractures. 
            Facial Plast Surg. 
            2005; 
            21 
            171-175 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 30 
            Kung DS, Kaban LB. 
            Supratarsal fold incision for approach to the superior lateral orbit. 
            Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 
            1996; 
            81 
            522-525 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 31 
            Lane CM. 
            Cosmetic orbital surgery. 
            Eye. 
            2006; 
            20 
            1220-1223 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 32 
            Chi JH, Parsa AT, Berger MS. et al .
            Extended bifrontal craniotomy for midline anterior fossa meningiomas: minimization
            of retraction-related edema and surgical outcomes. 
            Neurosurgery. 
            2006; 
            59 
            ONS 
            426-433 
            ; discussion ONS 433–424 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 33 
            Lemole Jr GM, Henn JS, Zabramski JM. et al .
            Modifications to the orbitozygomatic approach. 
            Technical note. J Neurosurg. 
            2003; 
            99 
            924-930 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 34 
            Zabramski JM, Kiris T, Sankhla SK. et al .
            Orbitozygomatic craniotomy. 
            Technical note. J Neurosurg. 
            1998; 
            89 
            336-341 
            
            Reference Ris Wihthout Link
Correspondence
A. Quinones-HinojosaMD 
         MD 21231 Baltimore
         
         USA
         
         Phone: +1/410/502 2906
         
         Fax: +1/410/502 5559
         
         Email: aquinon2@jhmi.edu
         
         
 
    