Endoscopic Orbital and Periorbital Approaches in Minimally Disruptive Skull Base Surgery.

Abstract

Endoscopic surgery of the orbit, periorbital region, and adjacent areas of the anterior and middle cranial fossae and brain has gained significant popularity over the last decade. These procedures are now being used at multiple institutions internationally with a success and safety record that has been demonstrated to be at par with or better than other techniques. The approaches provide minimally disruptive, scarless access to regions that previously required extensive open operations with significant retraction of critical neurovascular structures leading to prolonged morbidity and hospitalization. This paper will describe the basic techniques of these approaches, how they can be used alone or in multiportal (para- and contraportal) technique and guide the reader to resources for further learning.