Petroclinoid ligament

The anterior petroclinoid fold (APF) is a ligamentous structure consisting of collagen fiber and extends from the petrous apex to the anterior clinoid process. During the surgical clipping of some posterolaterally projecting posterior communicating artery aneurysms, it may pose a technical challenge due to obscuration of the aneurismal neck by the APF.

Direct oculomotor nerve decompression by opening of the anterior petroclinoid ligament during aneurysm clipping is performed as a simple and feasible surgical maneuver which allows to improve the decompression effect obtained by aneurysm exclusion.

Anterior petroclinoid ligament opening permits to achieve a better oculomotor nerve decompression. Its efficiency on the recovery of the deficit needs to be proved by larger series ¹⁾.

Ji et al., describe a simple and effective technique utilizing fenestration of the APF to facilitate visualization and surgical clipping of these aneurysms. To the best knowledge, this technique of the APF fenestration has been reported in only a few patients ²⁾.