THE TRANSZYGOMATIC APPROACH - AN ANATOMICAL STUDY

The transzygomatic approach has been utilised to facilitate neurosurgi cal access to the skull base for a number of Sears, Advocates of the t echnique claim the additional access gained provides wider exposure of the neurosurgical pathology and improved visualisation of adjacent vi tal neurovascular structures. The aim of this study was to photographi cally demonstrate the technique and to highlight the anatomical areas to which access can be improved. A morphological cadaver study was und ertaken, Specific intracranial structures in the vicinity of the skull base were targeted and exposure was compared with and without the zyg oma in position, This study demonstrates the increase in exposure of t he basilar bifurcation (,ia a transsylvian approach) and the P2 segmen t of the posterior cerebral artery (via a subtemporal approach) that c an be achieved and the improved access to adjacent anatomical compartm ents. It can be concluded that the transzygomatic approach is a relati vely simple technique which can readily increase exposure of the skull base, It also pro,ides simultaneous access to the superior pole of th e infratemporal fossa, the pterygopalatine fossa and the orbit.