Ran Wei1, Liu Xiang-Zhen, Guo Bing, Shu Da-Long, Tan Ze-Ming. 1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 58 Zhong Shan Road II, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, PR China. ranweigd@gmail.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Foreign bodies located at the base of the skull pose a surgical challenge. Here, a customized computer-designed surgical guide bar was designed to facilitate removal of a skull base foreign body. METHODS: Within 24h of the patient's presentation, a guide bar and mounting platform were designed to remove a foreign body located adjacent to the transverse process of the atlas and pressing against the internal carotid artery. RESULTS: The foreign body was successfully located and removed using the custom designed guide bar and computer operative planning. Ten months postoperatively the patient was free of complaints and lacked any complications such as restricted opening of the mouth or false aneurysm. The inferior alveolar nerve damage noted immediately postoperatively (a consequence of mandibular osteotomy) was slightly reduced at follow-up, but labial numbness persisted. CONCLUSIONS: The navigation tools described herein were successfully employed to aid foreign body removal from the skull base. Copyright (c) 2009 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
BACKGROUND: Foreign bodies located at the base of the skull pose a surgical challenge. Here, a customized computer-designed surgical guide bar was designed to facilitate removal of a skull base foreign body. METHODS: Within 24h of the patient's presentation, a guide bar and mounting platform were designed to remove a foreign body located adjacent to the transverse process of the atlas and pressing against the internal carotid artery. RESULTS: The foreign body was successfully located and removed using the custom designed guide bar and computer operative planning. Ten months postoperatively the patient was free of complaints and lacked any complications such as restricted opening of the mouth or false aneurysm. The inferior alveolar nerve damage noted immediately postoperatively (a consequence of mandibular osteotomy) was slightly reduced at follow-up, but labial numbness persisted. CONCLUSIONS: The navigation tools described herein were successfully employed to aid foreign body removal from the skull base. Copyright (c) 2009 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.