Posterior Fossa Craniotomy: Retrospective Analysis of 85 Patients

Abstract

Aim: Craniectomy procedures were traditionally performed in posterior fossa surgeries. However, craniotomy procedure has also been started to be performed routinely in recent years. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the patients who underwent posterior fossa craniotomy procedures. Methods: The records of 85 patients who underwent posterior fossa craniotomy for various pathologies between 2016-2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: The mean age of the patients was 36.1 (2-82 years interval). There were 43 female patients (50.5%) and 42 male patients (49.5%). The pathologies was tumoral in 63 patients and non-tumoral in 22 patients. The symptoms of the patients identified were headache (84.5%), cerebellar symptoms (68%), deterioration of consciousness (54%), nause (48%), cranial nerve dysfunction (34%) and hemiparesis (18.5%). At admission, hydrocephaly was present in 22 patients. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt was applied to 12 of these patients. The duramater of the 68 patients were closed with primary suturation while 17 patients underwent duraplasty with fascia graft. Craniotomy flaps were fixed with only silk in 75 patients and miniplates in 10 patients. Two of the patients had pseudomeningocele and 1 had cerebrospinal fluid leak from the wound. The mortality rate was 3.5%. The mean duration of hospitalization was 7.6 days (2-54 days interval). Conclusion: Posterior fossa craniotomy technique has recently become widespread and begun to replace traditional craniectomy technique. It was facilitated by using high-speed drill with the advancement in technology. Posterior fossa craniotomy is a prominent technique with the low complication rates and high patient comfort in the postoperative period.