title: Endoscopic Endonasal Odontoidectomy.
abstract: Odontoidectomy is the treatment of choice for irreducible ventral cervical-medullary compression. The endonasal endoscopic approach is an innovative approach for odontoidectomy. The aim of this article is to identify in which conditions this approach is indicated, discussing variants of the technique for selected cases of craniovertebral malformation with platybasia. We believe that the technical difficulties of this approach are balanced by the advantages for patients. Some conditions related to the patient and to the anatomy of the craniovertebral junction may favor adoption of the endoscopic endonasal approach, which should be considered complementary and not alternative to standard approaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Center of Pituitary Tumors and Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery, IRCCS Scienze Neurologiche, via Altura, 3, Bologna 40139, Italy. Electronic address: matteozeta@libero.it.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Center of Pituitary Tumors and Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery, IRCCS Scienze Neurologiche, via Altura, 3, Bologna 40139, Italy.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mazzatenta
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Center of Pituitary Tumors and Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery, IRCCS Scienze Neurologiche, via Altura, 3, Bologna 40139, Italy.
authors.forename: Adelaide
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valluzzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Center of Pituitary Tumors and Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery, IRCCS Scienze Neurologiche, via Altura, 3, Bologna 40139, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mascari
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, Azienda USL, via Altura, 3, Bologna 40139, Italy.
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pasquini
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Center of Pituitary Tumors and Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery, IRCCS Scienze Neurologiche, via Altura, 3, Bologna 40139, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Frank
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D057605:Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery / Q000379:methods; D044583:Neuroendoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D009666:Nose; D009809:Odontoid Process / Q000601:surgery*; D018579:Patient Selection; D010985:Platybasia / Q000150:complications; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Basilar invagination; Craniovertebral junction; Endoscopic endonasal surgery; Occipital-cervical degenerative disease; Odontoidectomy