Background
The Far Lateral Approach (FLA) is a neurosurgical access for lesions at the foramen magnum and lower clival regions, where the brainstem, cranial nerves IX-XII, and vertebral artery converge. This surgical approach allows safe access to lesions in the posterior fossa, both anterior and lateral to the brainstem, while minimizing tissue damage. Although widely reported worldwide, no data have been published in Vietnam.
Objectives
To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and surgical outcomes of the FLA in managing posterior fossa lesions from a single-surgeon series in Vietnam.
Materials and methods
This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on seven patients who underwent microsurgery via the FLA for posterior fossa lesions between January 2022 and January 2025.
Results
The cohort included five women and two men, aged 30–64 years (mean 51.7 ± 14.5). Diagnoses included four meningiomas (two lower clival, two foramen magnum meningiomas), one neurinoma, one neurenteric cyst, and one vertebral artery aneurysm. All procedures were performed by the same surgical team following a standardized protocol. Gross total resection was achieved in all tumor cases. No major complications such as meningitis, hemiplegia, or perioperative mortality were observed. Minor complications included transient lower cranial nerve deficits (hoarseness, dysphagia) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, which resolved with conservative management.
Conclusion
The FLA is safe and effective for managing posterior fossa lesions at the foramen magnum and lower clival regions, and can be successfully applied in Vietnam. It provides wide exposure while preserving critical neurovascular structures, with favorable outcomes and manageable complications.
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