Intradural Clinoidectomy: A Tailored Osteotomy for Approaching the Paraclinoid Carotid Artery and Interpeduncular Cisterns.

Abstract

Anterior clinoidectomy is an important tool for neurovascular and skull base surgeons. This technique is cardinal for expanding access to the sella, proximal carotid artery, and central skull base. The goal of anterior clinoidectomy is to reveal the more proximal ophthalmic and clinoidal segments of the internal carotid artery while unroofing the optic canal and skeletonizing the proximal optic nerve. This maneuver expands the opticocarotid and carotid-oculomotor access windows and therefore the operative corridor to the interpeduncular cisterns.