J Neurol Surg B Skull Base 2016; 77(03): 238-242
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1566301
Original Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Morphometric Analysis of Bone Resection in Anterior Petrosectomies

Osama Ahmed
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
,
Jonathan Walther
2   School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
,
Krystle Theriot
3   Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
,
Morganne Manuel
3   Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
,
Bharat Guthikonda
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

15 December 2014

10 September 2015

Publication Date:
02 November 2015 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction The anterior petrosectomy is a well-defined skull base approach to lesions such as petroclival meningiomas, posterior circulation aneurysms, petrous apex lesions (chondrosarcomas, cholesteatomas), ventrolateral brainstem lesions, clival chordomas, trigeminal neurinomas, and access to cranial nerves III, IV, V, and VII.

Methods and Materials Fourteen anterior petrosectomies on eight cadaveric heads were performed in a skull base dissection laboratory. Predissection and postdissection thin-cut computed tomography scans were obtained to compare the bone resection. A computer program was used (InVivo5, Anatomage, San Jose, California, United States) to measure the bone resection and the improved viewing angle.

Results The average bone removed in each plane was as follows: anterior to posterior plane was 10.57 mm ± 2.00 mm, superior to inferior was 9.39 mm ± 1.67 mm, and lateral to medial was 17.46 mm ± 4.64 mm. The average increased angle of view was 13.01 ± 2.35 degrees (Table 1). The average volume was 1786.94 ± 827.40 mm3.

Conclusions Anterior petrosectomy is a useful approach to access the ventrolateral brainstem region. We present a cadaveric study quantitating the volume of bone resection and improvement in the viewing angle. These data provide useful preoperative information on the utility of this skull base approach and the gain in the viewing angle after bony removal.