CRANIOFACIAL OSTEOTOMIES FOR SKULL BASE ACCESS

During a five year period 150 craniofacial access osteotomies for skul l base access have been performed allowing direct exposure of patholog y in difficult anatomical acreas with minimal complications. These app roaches have been developed by considering the craniofacial skeleton a s a single osteoplastic structure. Bone segments are mobilised and rep laced using rigid fixation. In this way osteotomies can be planned whi ch significantly improve access and preserve form and function in the complex region of the skull base.