Surgery of the Anterior Cranial Base: Open Approach

In this book chapter, we discuss the main open surgical approaches to the anterior skull base through an anatomical point of view. We expose a brief historical background, followed by the most relevant surgical anatomy of the anterior cranial base, in order to have a better comprehension of the explained craniotomies. The surgical technique and decision-making algorithm are presented in a comprehensive and detailed manner, illustrated through case examples in a step-by-step fashion for every approach. In addition, we will be describing the potential complications and how to prevent them.