The transpalpebral approach “eyelid incision” for surgical management of intracranial tumors: A 10-years’ experience

BACKGROUND: The minimally invasive approaches to the anterior skull base region through fronto-orbital craniotomy remain a highly accepted option that gains countenance and predilection over time. The transpalpebral “eyelid” incision is an under-utilized and more recent technique that offers a safe efficient corridor to manage a wide variety of lesions. METHODS: We carried a retrospective study of 44 patients operated on by the fronto-orbital craniotomy through transpalpebral “eyelid” incision for intracranial tumors, in the time period from March 2007 to July 2016. The results from surgeries were analyzed; extent of tumor resection, length of hospital stay, cosmetic outcome, and complications. RESULTS: Out of the 44 intracranial tumor cases, we had 16 male and 28 female patients with median age 54 years. We had 19 anterior skull base lesions, 8 middle skull base lesions and 8 parasellar lesions. We also operated on four frontal intraparenchymal lesions and four other various lesions. Total resection was achieved in 32 cases (72.7%), with excellent cosmetic outcome in 43 cases (97.7%). Average hospital stay was 6 days. No major complications recorded. Three cases (6.8%) had complications that varied between pseudomeningocele, wound infections, and facial pain. Follow-up average period was 23.6 months. CONCLUSION: The fronto-orbital approach through eyelid incision remains a reliable approach to the skull base. It provides natural anatomical dissection planes through the eyelid incision and a fronto-orbital craniotomy, creating a wide surgical corridor to manage specific lesions with consistent surgical and cosmetic outcome.