A protocol for reconstructing complex lateral skull base defects: two decades of tertiary care experience
Farooq, Muhammad Umar Hirayama, Yuri Muzaffar, Jameel Kumar, Raghu Huins, Charlie Monksfield, Peter Baden, James Evriviades, Demetrius Irving, Richard
Farooq, Muhammad Umar
Hirayama, Yuri
Muzaffar, Jameel
Kumar, Raghu
Huins, Charlie
Monksfield, Peter
Baden, James
Evriviades, Demetrius
Irving, Richard
Abstract
Objective: To describe a multidisciplinary protocol for the resection and reconstruction of complex lateral skull base pathology, based on over two decades of experience in a high-volume tertiary referral center in the United Kingdom.
Study design: Retrospective descriptive analysis of institutional practice.
Setting: A high-volume tertiary skull base unit in the United Kingdom.
Methods: This study presents a summary of clinical experience in managing lateral skull base pathologies-both benign and malignant-over a 20-year period. It outlines a multidisciplinary approach involving ENT, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, anesthesia, radiology, oncology, and specialist nursing teams. The institutional protocol for resection and reconstruction is described, including surgical planning, intraoperative decision-making, perioperative care, and long-term rehabilitation strategies.
Results: The integrated multidisciplinary protocol enabled safe and effective management of a broad range of lateral skull base lesions. The team achieved high rates of complete resection and functional reconstruction, with acceptable levels of morbidity. Complex anatomy, tumor extent, and reconstructive requirements were successfully navigated through coordinated team-based planning. The approach has been refined through iterative experience and now serves as a reference pathway for similarly structured centers.
Conclusions: Effective management of lateral skull base pathology requires a highly coordinated multidisciplinary strategy. The described protocol, developed and implemented over two decades, offers a structured and reproducible approach that may serve as a valuable reference for other high-volume centers involved in skull base surgery.
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Date
2026-06-23
Type
Article
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Citation
Farooq MU, Hirayama Y, Muzaffar J, Kumar R, Huins C, Monksfield P, Baden J, Evriviades D, Irving R. A Protocol for Reconstructing Complex Lateral Skull Base Defects: Two Decades of Tertiary Care Experience. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2026 Jun 23. doi: 10.1002/ohn.70321. Epub ahead of print.