The Micro-Anatomy Study On The Far Lateral Approach To The Lesion Of Cranio-Cervical Junction

Objective:To research the clinical anatomy of far-lateral approach applying on the cranio-cervical junction .The objection of this research was to find a better mode to reduce the injury of medulla and spinal cord in the operation. Methods and results:Five adult cadaveric head specimens with arteries and veins perfused with colored latex were dissected by using microsurgical skill, according to the procedures of the far lateral approach.The anatomy process as follows:The stage of extra-skull in this approach is divieded three phases.The first step includes the skin incision, exposure suboccipital superficial muscle. The sternocleidomastoid and trapezius are in the first layer encountered , that forming the occipital triangle.The second step, dividing the sternocleidomastoid just below and with preservation of its upper attachment for closure and reflecting it laterally exposes the upper extension of the splenius capitis. Detaching the trapezius and dissect it at inferior border, then reflecting it medially. The splenius capitis muscles and upper part of semispinalis capitis muscle was exposured while preserving a cuff of the formers upper attachments for closure, and reflecting them medially exposes the longissimus capitis muscle and semispinalis capitis muscle. The...