Surgery of the Caudal Fossa

The caudal fossa, housing the brainstem and cerebellum, offers unique surgical challenges and rewards due to the location and the critical nature of the structures contained within it. This chapter focuses on the standard surgical approaches to the caudal fossa, some of what is presented is based on experience and/or anecdote from the author and others providing critique and mentorship over the years. The clinical presentation of small animals with caudal fossa disease depends on the location and acuity of the lesion as well as the impact of the pathology on cerebrospinal fluid flow dynamics. Dogs and cats undergoing caudal fossa surgery require the same preoperative assessment as other cranial surgical patients. Both bony and soft tissue anatomy of the caudal fossa is uniquely specific to every patient and must be carefully evaluated preoperatively since it heavily influences surgical positioning, approach, instrumentation, and overall success of the procedure.