Do recently developed techniques for skull base surgery increase the risk of difficult airway management? Assessment of pseudoankylosis of the mandible following surgical manipulation of the temporalis muscle.

We report our experience with anesthetic care for six patients with pseudoankylosis of the mandible following neurosurgical procedures, four of whom required fiberoptically guided intubation for anesthesia. We suggest that the development of operative approaches and reconstruction techniques in skull base surgery may increase the risk of difficult airway due to limitation of mouth opening.