title: Midfacial split for access to the central base.
abstract: The technique of the midfacial split for access to the central cranial base is described. It provides--using bilateral facial osteotomies and soft tissue mobilization--a unified surgical field extending in the sagittal plane from the anterior cranial fossa floor and sphenoid sinus to the level of the fourth cervical vertebral body. In the axial plane, the periphery of the surgical access may extend to the jugular fossae and the hypoglossal canals. Experiences and results in eight patients are presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: I P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Janecka
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Nuss
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Sen
mesh_terms: D002813:Chondrosarcoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods*; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013101:Sphenoid Sinus / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed