Postoperative Complications and Neurological Deficits After Petroclival Region Meningioma Resection: A Case Series

Surgical management of meningiomas involving the petroclival junction remains a challenge because of nearby critical neurovascular structures.To describe surgical approach selection, outcomes, and factors associated with postoperative complications and neurological deficits in a series of patients undergoing resection of petroclival region meningiomas.Retrospective review of patients undergoing symptomatic petroclival region meningioma resection was performed. Logistic regression was performed to identify variables associated with postoperative complications and new neurological deficits.Sixty-five patients underwent 54 one-stage and 11 two-stage resections with median follow-up of 51 months. Most tumors were World Health Organization grade 1 (90.8%), and the median volume was 23.9 cm 3 . Posterior petrosectomy and anterior petrosectomy were performed in 67.1% and 6.6% of operations, respectively. The gross or near total resection rate was 15.4%, and 8 patients (12.3%) progressed on follow-up. The surgical complication rate was 26.2% with no perioperative mortalities. Postoperatively, 45.8% of patients had new, persistent neurological deficits, with cranial nerves VII palsy being most common. On multivariate analysis, higher body mass index (odds ratio [OR]: 1.1, P = .04) was associated with risk of surgical complications. Longer operative time (OR: 1.4, P = .004) and staged procedures (OR: 4.9, P = .04) were associated with risk of new neurological deficit on follow-up, likely reflecting more challenging tumors. Comparing early vs later career surgeries performed by the senior author, rates of severe complications and neurological deficits decreased 23.1% and 22.3%, respectively.Petroclival region meningiomas remain surgically challenging, but improved outcomes are seen with surgeon experience. These data help inform patients on perioperative morbidity risk and provide a guide for surgical approach selection.