Comparison between modified lateral supraorbital approach and pterional approach in the surgical treatment of middle cerebral artery aneurysms

BACKGROUND: The Middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm is a common type of craniocerebral aneurysm that is prone to rupture and high mortality. The classic surgical approaches are the Pterional approach and the Lateral Supraorbital (LSO) approach, but there are shortcomings. METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed clinical and imaging data from 181 patients with MCA aneurysm clipping in the Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between 2011 and 2017. Statistical analysis using parametric and nonparametric tests showed that P values below 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The preoperative GCS score (P = 0.003), Hunt-Hess scale (P < 0.001) and the operating habits of the surgeon (P < 0.001) affected the surgeon to choose a surgical approach. The choice of two surgical methods on the operation time (P < 0.001), skin incision (P < 0.001), complications (P = 0.026), tracheotomy (P = 0.014), prognosis (P = 0.002) were significantly different. Different surgical approaches (P = 0.002), Hunt-Hess scale (P < 0.001), GCS scale (P < 0.001), GCS sorse (P < 0.001), skin incision (P = 0.031) and complications (P < 0.001) are closely related to the prognosis of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Modified LSO approach provides another surgical approach for MCA aneurysm clipping, while avoiding the drawbacks of the LSO approach in the clipping of MCA distal aneurysm.