Craniofacial access to the anterior and middle cranial fossae and skull base.

A profusion of surgical approaches to gain access to the anterior and middle cranial fossa and skull base have been described. An attempt has been made to simplify the position by suggesting a classification of surgical approaches and to describe a standard approach (of at most 4 defined osteotomies, or at least 2) to give a craniofacial approach to the anterior and middle cranial fossae, the infratemporal fossa, the orbit and the superior nasal cavity. The full extent of the osteotomies have been likened to an ancient Corinthian face mask, or to the stylized face-mask worn by the comic book hero, Batman.