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

BACKGROUND

Foreign 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.

METHODS

Within 24h 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.

RESULTS

The 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.

CONCLUSIONS

The navigation tools described herein were successfully employed to aid foreign body removal from the skull base.