Mobilization Of Vertebral Artery Research Articles

Vertebral Artery Mobilization During Transcondylar Extreme Far Lateral Approach for Excision of Large Foramen Magnum Meningioma: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

Foramen magnum meningiomas are challenging lesions owing to their proximity to the lower brainstem, vertebrobasilar system, and lower cranial nerves.1,2 Tumor size, origin, morphology, relationship to neurovascular structures, and bony anatomy determine the optimal surgical approach.2,3 Classically, far lateral approaches have been the workhorse approach to the foramen magnum. Variations of the far lateral including transcondylar and extended transcondylar (paracondylar), with or without transposition of the vertebral artery, are sometimes used for a more lateral approach to the brainstem and clivus. Here, we present a 60-year-old male patient presenting with a large foramen magnum meningioma. Preoperative workup includes computed tomography and MRI with angiography to assess for posterior circulation dominance, anatomic variants including posterior inferior cerebellar artery origin, venous, and bony anatomy.1,4 An extreme far lateral provides access anterior to the vertebral artery to extend exposure beyond the standard far lateral approach. This comprised transcondylar drilling, bony mobilization of the V3 Vertebral artery from C1 foramen transversarium, and dural mobilization of vertebral artery with a dural cuff at its site of dural entry. The patient tolerated the procedure, gross total resection was achieved, and the patient was discharged home. This video demonstrates in detail the steps of exposure, condylar drilling, vertebral artery transposition, and dural opening. These maneuvers can be difficult to conceptualize yet are key to successful extended transcondylar exposure. The patient gave informed consent for surgery and video recording. Institutional Review Board approval was deemed unnecessary.

[C2 pedicle screw insertion assisted by mobilization of the vertebral artery in cases with high-riding vertebral artery].

Objective: To examine the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of mobilization of the vertebral artery for C2 pedicle screws in cases with high-riding vertebral artery (HRVA). Methods: The clinical data of 12 patients with basilar invagination and atlantoaxial dislocation underwent atlantoaxial reduction and fixation in the Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China between January 2020 and November 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients had high-riding vertebral artery on at least one side that prohibited the insertion of C2 pedicle screws. There were 2 males and 10 females aged (48.0±12.8) years (range: 17 to 67 years). After correction of vertical dislocation during the operation, the C2 pedicle screw insertion and occipitocervical fixation and fusion were performed using the vertebral artery mobilization technique. Neurological function was assessed using the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scale. The preoperative and postoperative JOA score and the main radiological measurements, including the anterior atlantodental interval (ADI), the distance of the odontoid tip above the Chamberlain line, the clivus-canal angle, were collected and compared by paired t-test. Results: Mobilization of the high-riding vertebral artery was successfully completed, and C2 pedicle screws were then fulfilled after the vertebral artery was protected. There was no injury to the vertebral artery during the operation. Meanwhile, no severe surgical complications such as cerebral infarction or aggravated neurological dysfunction occurred during the perioperative period. Satisfactory C2 pedicle screw placement and reduction were achieved in all 12 patients. All patients achieved bone fusion 6 months after surgery. No looseness and shift in internal fixation or reduction loss was observed during the follow-up period. Compared to the preoperative, the postoperative ADI decreased from (6.1±1.9) mm to (2.0±1.2) mm (t=6.73, P<0.01), the distance of the odontoid tip above Chamberlain line decreased from (10.4±2.5) mm to (5.5±2.3) mm (t=7.12, P<0.01), the clivus-canal angle increased from (123.4±11.1) ° to (134.7±9.6) ° (t=2.50, P=0.032), the JOA score increased from 13.3±2.1 to 15.6±1.2 (t=6.99, P<0.01). Conclusion: The C2 pedicle screw insertion assisted by mobilization of the vertebral artery is safe and considerably effective, providing a choice for internal fixation in cases with high-riding vertebral arteries.

Vertebral Artery Mobilization and Cervical Tumor Resection

To emphasize the importance of vertebral artery (VA) mobilization by reviewing the anatomy and variations of the VA while performing total resection of VA-associated tumors that develop from different tissues. VA mobilization and mass resection were performed after the evaluation and preoperative imaging of 22 patients with VA-related tumors. Anterior, posterior, or both approaches were conducted on the patients and stabilization was also applied to the patients in need. Radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy were planned for patients with malignant tumors as shown by histopathology. Overall, 17 patients with benign and 5 patients with malignant tumors underwent tumor resection with VA mobilizing. There were 13 male and 9 female patients with a mean age of 29.3 years. The average follow-up duration was 53 months. All the patients received gross total tumor resection and had a good postoperative neurological recovery. No complications were observed; local recurrence was observed only in 2 patients. VA mobilization reduces the need for instrumentation in VA-related cases, especially nerve tumors, and increases the possibility of the surgical resection of vertebral tumors.

Vertebral artery mobilization for C1-2 reduction and fixation.

Craniocervical instability due to chronic atlantoaxial dissociation presents the challenge of providing adequate decompression, reduction, and fixation to promote long-term stability while avoiding iatrogenic vertebral artery dissection or entrapment. The authors present one patient with chronic atlantoaxial dissociation and basilar invagination treated via Goel’s technique and with bilateral vertebral artery mobilization. There was substantial decompression and reduction postoperatively and the patient was discharged with a stable examination. Vertebral artery mobilization at the C1–2 junction can be safely performed via a standard midline suboccipital incision and dissection without vertebral artery injury.The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/VS1Mt1dBLO4.

Foramen Magnum Meningioma: Microsurgical Endoscopic-Controlled Resection via a Lateral Suboccipital Retrocondylar Approach with Preservation of Posterior Arch of Atlas Integrity.

Objective  Surgical treatment of foramen magnum (FM) meningiomas is challenging due to proximity of the tumor to critical neurovascular structures, namely, the lower brainstem/upper cervical cord, vertebral artery, PICA, and lower cranial nerves. Controversies in microsurgical resection of meningiomas in this location include the necessity for condyle drilling and the need for vertebral artery mobilization. However, a laminectomy or hemilaminectomy of the C1 posterior arch is usually routinely performed. We herein present microsurgical, endoscopic-controlled resection of a FM meningioma via a posterolateral retrocondylar suboccipital craniotomy with preservation of the integrity of the posterior arch of the atlas. Setting  Our patient, a 57-year-old patient, suffered from right-sided hemiparesis due to a right-sided ventrolateral FM meningioma compromising the medulla oblongata and upper cervical cord. The tumor at the craniocervical junction was resected through a posterolateral suboccipital retrocondylar craniotomy. Results  Radical resection of the FM meningioma was accomplished via a lateral suboccipital retrocondylar craniotomy with preservation of posterior arch of atlas integrity. The postoperative course was uneventful with full preservation of neurological function. Preoperative hemiparesis subsided completely after surgery. Conclusion  Anterior-laterally located FM meningiomas can be safely and completely resected via a suboccipital retrocondylar craniotomy. A laminectomy or hemilaminectomy of the posterior arch of C1 is not routinely required for complete and safe resection of these tumors at the craniocervical junction. Neuroendoscopy is beneficial for control of complete tumor resection. The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/DBk6qoJ6OzQ .

Modified Far Lateral Approach for Posterior Circulation Aneurysms: An Institutional Experience

The modified far lateral approach is a modified version of the far lateral approach without drilling of the condyle. This approach can be used for accessing aneurysms anterior and anterolateral to the brainstem and craniovertebral junction. We describe the surgical outcome and complications of the modified far lateral approach for vertebrobasilar, proximal posterior inferior cerebellar artery, and vertebral artery aneurysms. The records of 26 patients with vertebrobasilar aneurysms who underwent surgery using the modified far lateral approach from 1994 to 2015 were retrospectively reviewed to analyze the clinical outcomes. Mean age of patients was 61 years (range, 38-84 years), and 18 patients were women. The most common presenting symptoms were sudden-onset headache (77%) and dizziness (35%). Of patients, 21 (81%) had saccular aneurysms, and 5 (19%) had fusiform aneurysms. The modified far lateral approach was used in 16 patients with posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysms, 6 patients with vertebral artery aneurysms, 2 patients with basilar aneurysms, 1 patient with a vertebrobasilar junction aneurysm, and 1 patient with an anterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysm. All aneurysms were clipped successfully. Follow-up data were available for 25 patients (median duration 67 months). At last follow-up, 22 patients had a good recovery (modified Rankin Scale score 1-3), and 3 patients had a poor outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 4-6). Four patients developed lower cranial nerve palsy, and 7 patients developed new-onset hydrocephalus. The modified far-lateral approach without condyle resection and vertebral artery mobilization is associated with low procedure-related morbidity and comparable outcomes to the more extensive traditional approach.

Transforaminal Retrojugular Approach (TFRA) for Resection of Dumbbell Nerve Sheath Tumors in the Cervical Spine

Aims: Based on modern MR imaging, we consider the true dumbbell spinal tumors to have an intradural component within the spinal canal, expanding through the neural foramen and forming an extradural component paraspinally. Surgical treatment of these tumors is challenging in the subaxial cervical spine. In standard posterior approach the resection of extradural component integrity of the facet joint must be sacrifice with risk for instability. Additionally, the proximal control of the adjacent vertebral artery is impossible in event of a vessel injury. We describe a simplification of retrojugular technique which enables one stage gross total resection of the dumbbell tumors as described above with neither mobilization of vertebral artery (VA) nor spinal stabilization. Dural reconstruction was performed using mobilized local vascularized muscle flap.

Surgical outcomes of craniocervial junction meningiomas: A series of 22 consecutive patients

ObjectiveWe present our experience in managing craniocervical junction meningiomas and discuss various surgical approaches and outcomes. MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 22 consecutive cases of craniocervical junction meningiomas operated on between August 1995 and May 2012. ResultsThere were 15 female and 7 male patients (mean age: 54 years). Meningiomas were classified based on origin as spinocranial (7 cases) or craniospinal (15 cases). Additionally, the tumors were divided into anatomical location relative to the brainstem or spinal cord: there were 2 anterior tumors, 7 anterolateral, 12 lateral, and 1 posterolateral. Surgical approaches included the posterior midline suboccipital approach (9 cases), the far lateral approach (12 cases) and the lateral retrosigmoid approach (1 case). Gross-total resection was achieved in 45% of patients and subtotal in 55%. The most common post-operative complications were cranial nerve (CN) IX and X deficits. The mortality rate was 4.5%. There have been no recurrences to date with a mean follow-up was 46.5 months and the mean Karnofsky score at the last follow-up of 82.3. In this series, spinocranial tumors were detected at a smaller size (p=0.0724) and treated earlier (p=0.1398) than craniospinal tumors. They were associated with a higher rate of total resection (p=0.0007), fewer post-operative CN IX or X deficits (p=0.0053), and shorter hospitalizations (p=0.08). ConclusionOur experience suggests that posterior midline suboccipital or far-lateral approaches with minimal condylar drilling and vertebral artery mobilization were suitable for most cases in this series.

The far lateral approaches to the craniovertebral junction

Access to pathologies at the craniovertebral junction can be achieved with a number of approaches; all should avoid manipulation of the neural structures. In much the same way as an orbito-zygomatic approach is used to augment fronto-temporal access and reduce brain retraction and a trans-labyrinthine approach is chosen rather than a retrosigmoid approach to a vestibular schwannoma, so bone at the foramen magnum, including condyle, can be removed to improve access to structures ventral to the brainstem and the spinal cord. Large tumors may create a corridor of access allowing a more posterior approach to be employed. Smaller tumors and pathologies that do not distort the brain may, however, require more bone removal along with mobilization of the vascular structures, particularly the vertebral artery and occasionally the jugular tubercle. The far lateral approach with partial condylectomy and vertebral artery mobilization is described as the preferred access.

Lateral Approach to Anterolateral Tumors at the Foramen Magnum: Factors Determining Surgical Procedure

We discuss and evaluate surgical strategies and results in 42 patients with a variety of tumors involving the anterior and anterolateral foramen magnum and present factors affecting the degree of resection and patient outcomes. We describe our surgical techniques for resection of these tumors via the lateral approach, including consideration for occipital condylar resection and vertebral artery management. A retrospective analysis was performed of 42 surgically treated patients with tumors involving the anterior and anterolateral foramen magnum. Patients received treatment between 1991 and 2002; patients' files, operative notes, and pre- and postoperative imaging studies were used for the analysis. The female-to-male ratio was 28:14. Mean patient age was 47 years. Pathological entities comprised 18 meningiomas, 12 chordomas, 3 glomus tumors, 3 schwannomas, and 6 miscellaneous tumors. We mobilized the vertebral artery at the dural entry point in all patients with meningiomas. The vertebral artery was mobilized at the C1 transverse foramen for the majority of extradural tumors. Partial condyle resection was performed in eight meningiomas and five extradural tumors. Complete condyle resection was required in 12 cases, including 9 chordomas, 2 carcinomas, and 1 bone-invading pituitary adenoma. Thirteen patients required occipitocervical fusion after tumor resection. In anterior or anterolaterally located foramen magnum tumors, we think the extreme lateral or far lateral approach affords significant advantages. Vertebral artery mobilization and occipital condyle resection may be needed depending on the extent and location of the foramen magnum tumor and its specific pathological characteristics. Tumor invading the occipital condyle or significant condylar resection may cause occipitocervical instability and require fusion.