Removal of a foreign body from the skull base using a customized computer-designed guide bar

SummaryBackgroundForeign bodies located at the base of the skull pose a surgical challenge. Here, a customized computer-designed surgical guide bar was designed to facilitate removal of a skull base foreign body.MethodsWithin 24 h of the patient's presentation, a guide bar and mounting platform were designed to remove a foreign body located adjacent to the transverse process of the atlas and pressing against the internal carotid artery.ResultsThe foreign body was successfully located and removed using the custom designed guide bar and computer operative planning. Ten months postoperatively the patient was free of complaints and lacked any complications such as restricted opening of the mouth or false aneurysm. The inferior alveolar nerve damage noted immediately postoperatively (a consequence of mandibular osteotomy) was slightly reduced at follow-up, but labial numbness persisted.ConclusionsThe navigation tools described herein were successfully employed to aid foreign body removal from the skull base.