THE TRANSZYGOMATIC APPROACH - A LONG-TERM CLINICAL REVIEW

The transzygomatic approach has been utilised to improve access to the skull base, infratemporal fossa and orbit for a number of years. It p rovides a low anterolateral approach to the skull base, along the floo r of the middle fossa. It allows both a transsylvian and subtemporal a pproach with a reduction in brain retraction and better exposure of ad jacent neurovasculature structures. A long term review of 53 patients is presented highlighting outcome at two years post surgery and morbid ity of the approach. It is concluded that the technique is versatile a nd can be used to improve exposure of a variety of anatomical location s. There is minimal long term morbidity attributable to the surgery of access and the majority of patients have had good outcomes.