The course comprises three full-immersion 3-day modules conducted every quarter year plus distance learning activities and activities held at the AOUI, Verona.
Transcranial approaches: pterional and derived approaches. The course will address transcranial approaches to the anterior and middle cranial fossa, the pterional and other derived approaches, orbitozygomatic, fronto-orbital, zygomatic, and minimally invasive approaches, the intracranial areas that can be exposed, including the plenum sphenoidale, the tuberculum sellae, the sellar and parasellar region, the cavernous sinus; the cerebral areas that can be exposed, including the frontobasal, hypothalamic, temporomesial structures, fissures and cisterns.
Medial subfrontal approaches: The course will primarily address endoscopic transnasal approaches to the skull base for the treatment of intracranial frontobasal, ethmoidosphenoidal lesions, including the sellal turcica, and parasellar region, and the clival region including the atlo-occipital joint. Various treatment options will be explored and discussed. Particular attention will be devoted to reconstruction techniques.
Guided dissection of the anterolateral skull base, including the orbit. A brief theoretical exposition on surgical approaches to the orbit will round up the range of techniques that can be performed. This course will be mainly conducted in the laboratory so that participants can refine their techniques and develop their interests.