THE SUBOCCIPITAL TRANSCONDYLAR APPROACH TO THE CLIVUS AND CRANIOCERVICAL JUNCTION FOR VENTRALLY PLACED PATHOLOGY AT AND ABOVE THE FORAMEN MAGNUM

The dorsolateral suboccipital transcondylar approach for pathology ant erolateral or ventral to the neuraxis around the lower clivus and brai n stem was used in 10 patients with a variety of different pathologica l problems. Key features of the approach include exposure and mobilisa tion of the vertebral artery and resection of the postero-medial porti on of the atlanto-occipital joint. Despite the excellent access achiev ed additional exposure may be required in some patients with strictly anterior pathology or a lesion above the mid-clivus.