title: Transpalatal excision of the odontoid process.
abstract: A patient with platybasia of the skull and temporomandibular joint ankylosis is presented. Relief of brain stem compression by the impingement of the odontoid through a soft, hypoplastic clivus was done by first doing a mandibular condylectomy to open the mouth. A transoral-transpharyngeal route was then employed to excise the odontoid process.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000844:Ankylosis / Q000601:surgery*; D001368:Axis, Cervical Vertebra / Q000601:surgery*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010159:Palate; D010985:Platybasia / Q000601:surgery*; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000601:surgery*