title: Transmaxillary approach to the cranial base: an evaluation of 11 cases.
abstract: Surgical access to the skull base is always difficult, especially because of the noble anatomic structures present there. Maxillary osteotomy provides direct view to the clivus region and the neck spine, and it also bears less morbidity when compared to the many other accesses described in the literature.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to assess 11 patients submitted to transmaxillary osteotomy, describing the surgical technique and postoperative results and complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study involving eleven patients submitted to transmaxillary approach to the brainstem. We studied dental occlusion, trans and postoperative bleeding, bone necrosis and soft tissue alterations. All followed the same surgical protocol and were followed up for two years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  after treatment, all the patients improved in their clinical status and had no neurological complication, trans and postoperative hemorrhage or major complications were seen. Among the complications, two patients had incomplete maxilla fracture, two had laceration of their nasal mucosa and one had, as late complication, an oral-sinusal fistula.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transmaxillary osteotomy provided proper access to the clivus for brainstem decompression with low rate of complications in this series.
authors.affiliation: Specialist and master's degrees in Buccomaxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology / doctoral student in Buccomaxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology, FOP/UPE. Adjunct professor, Faculdade de Odontologia de Pernambuco, FOP/UPE.
authors.forename: Antonio Figueiredo
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Caubi
authors.affiliation: Specialist and master's degrees in Buccomaxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology / doctoral student in Buccomaxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology, FOP/UPE. Adjunct professor, Faculdade de Odontologia de Pernambuco, FOP/UPE.
authors.forename: Carlos Augusto Pereira
authors.initials: CAP
authors.lastname: Lago
authors.affiliation: Specialist, master's and doctoral degrees in Buccomaxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology. Adjunct professor of Buccomaxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology, Faculdade de Odontologia de Pernambuco, FOP/UPE. Coordinator of the master's and doctoral programs in Buccomaxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology, FOP/UPE. Electronic address: belmiro@pesquisador.com.br.
authors.forename: Belmiro Cavalcanti
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: do Egito Vasconcelos
authors.affiliation: Specialist in Buccomaxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology, regent of the Buccomaxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology Discipline, FOP/UPE.
authors.forename: Emanuel Dias
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: E Oliveira Silva
authors.affiliation: Specialist in Buccomaxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology, buccomaxillofacial surgeon, Hospital Getúlio Vargas - PE.
authors.forename: Nelson Studart
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Specialist in Buccomaxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology, buccomaxillofacial surgeon, Hospital da Restauração. Faculdade de Odontologia de Pernambuco - FOP/UPE. Buccomaxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology Discipline.
authors.forename: Hécio Henrique Araújo
authors.initials: HHA
authors.lastname: de Morais
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019291:Skull Base / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult