Anatomy of the Skull Base (Through the Transorbital Route)

The endoscopic transorbital approach (ETOA) has emerged as an innovative route of accessing the paramedian and lateral skull base areas from a ventral perspective. We used 3D stereoscopic endoscopic recording and photogrammetry surface scanning technique to obtain 3D anatomical models to create representative transorbital anatomical perspectives of the approach. ETOA allows minimally invasive access to the paramedian aspect of the entire skull base through a superior eyelid approach. The transorbital approach provides a direct view of the paramedian anterior, middle, and posterior cranial fossae as well as the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus and Meckel’s cave through a simple and rapid means of access.