Transoral Approach to the Ventral Craniocervical Border

The transoral approach to the ventral craniocervical border is the most direct route for decompression of irreducible extradural pathology. These procedures encompass the transpalatal, transoropharyngeal, and median mandibulotomy with glossotomy. We share the senior author's (AHM) experience with 693 patients treated via the transoropharyngeal-transpalatal route. Since 1977 the procedure has evolved into a safe and direct approach, associated with minimum morbidity and mortality rates. With this technique, 97% of patients require craniocervical stabilization, which is now performed at the same surgical setting as the transoral procedure.