Protection of abducent nerve in the operation of petroclival meningioma

LIU Ning; YAN Changxiang

Abstract：Objective The clinical data of 30 cases of petroclival meningioma have been summarized in order to improve the resection degree of petroclival meningiomas and reduce the abducent nerve injury .Methods The clinical characteristics, surgical techniques and abducent nerve damages were discussed and the relationship between the microanatomy of Dorello's cannal and petroclival meningioma was investigated.Results In 30 cases of petroclival meningiomas, tumor diameter <2.5 cm was in 6 cases, 2.5~3.5 cm in 16 cases, and >3.5 cm in 8 cases.After operation for patients with tumor diameter <2.5 cm, no abducent nerve dysfunction occurred;for patients with tumor diameter of 2.5~3.5 cm, there was 5 cases of abducent nerve dysfunction and for tumor diameter >3.5 cm, there were 4 cases.There were 7 cases of temporary dysfunction and 2 cases of permanent injury .Conclusion During the operation of petroclival meningioma, abducent nerve is prone to injury in the places where it originates from the pontomedullary sulcus and pierces the petroclival dura.Better knowledge of Dorello's cannal, early diagnosis and good exposure of the tumor , and acute separation in the adhesion will be helpful for the remove of the tumor and reduction of the iatrogenic injury of abducent nerve .