Far-Lateral Cervical Approach as a Minimally Invasive Technique for Excision of Upper Cervical Anterolateral and Anterior Meningiomas and Dumbbell Schwannomas: Technical Report and Case Series

Objective: To demonstrate the surgical details of far-lateral approach (FLA) as a minimally invasive technique for excision upper cervical anterolateral and anterior meningiomas dumbbell schwannomas, to assess clinical radiological outcomes in patients who underwent surgery.Methods: In this technical report case series we demonstrated FLA reported C1-C4 schwannomas between June 2007 2020. All patients’ relative preoperative demographic, clinical, radiographic, operative, histopathological, perioperative complications follow-up radiographic data were reported.Results: A total 19 including 12 females 7 males with mean age 56.7±17.6 years duration symptoms 12.8±12.3 months reported. Nine meningiomas, five 5 uneventful procedures. Gross resection (GTR) tumors was 17 (89.5%). Preoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score normal ten, grade-I five, grade-II 4 patients, while at last it improved seventeen two patients. Reported postoperative JOA scores 6 showed that all least one grade on scores. There cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak into suction drain three superficial wound infection another one.Conclusion: Our results advocate use safe effective technique.