{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,17]],"date-time":"2026-04-17T08:07:20Z","timestamp":1776413240376,"version":"3.51.2"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"Scientific Scholar","content-domain":{"domain":["surgicalneurologyint.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"\n Background:<\/jats:title>\n Conventional retrosigmoid craniotomy involves cutting of suboccipital muscles and neurovasculature, often leading to chronic postoperative pain and neck discomfort. We evaluated a modified, muscle-sparing linear incision technique designed to preserve these structures.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods:<\/jats:title>\n This observational cohort study compared 34 cases using the muscle-sparing technique (Group A) with 34 cases using conventional muscle cutting techniques (Group B). In Group A, a linear incision was followed by sharp subfascial dissection, allowing the suboccipital muscle group and occipital neurovascular bundle to be reflected inferiorly as a single subperiosteal unit without muscular incision. Following dural closure, the muscles were re-anchored to the fascial layer to restore normal anatomy and provide a buttressing effect. Patients were followed for 12 months to monitor localized pain, edema, pseudomeningocele, and headache.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results:<\/jats:title>\n \n The modified technique provided adequate posterior fossa access. Demographic data analysis showed no significant differences in age and gender. Group A demonstrated significantly shorter incision lengths (4.93 \u00b1 0.36 cm vs. 10.65 \u00b1 0.47 cm) and reduced blood loss (16.71 \u00b1 1.68 mL vs. 71.21 \u00b1 5.27 mL) (\n P<\/jats:italic>\n < 0.001). Opening and closing times were also significantly faster in Group A (\n P<\/jats:italic>\n < 0.001). While Group A had fewer complications (2.9% vs. 14.7%), the difference was not statistically significant (\n P<\/jats:italic>\n = 0.197). At 12 months, Group A reported no chronic neck discomfort.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusion:<\/jats:title>\n The muscle-sparing linear incision is a safe, efficient technique that minimizes tissue destruction and reduces operative time. Preservation of the suboccipital neurovascular bundle and restoration of anatomical layers significantly reduce postoperative morbidity.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.25259\/sni_39_2026","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,17]],"date-time":"2026-04-17T07:26:17Z","timestamp":1776410777000},"page":"220","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.25259\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Minimizing tissue damage through a modified muscle-sparing technique of retro-sigmoid exposure using linear incision"],"prefix":"10.25259","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Survendra Kumar R.","family":"Rai","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurosurgery, King Edward Memorial Hospital and Seth Gordhandas Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Amit","family":"Mahore","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurosurgery, King Edward Memorial Hospital and Seth Gordhandas Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Kushal","family":"Bhatia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurosurgery, Gleneagles Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Imamhusen","family":"Oli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurosurgery, King Edward Memorial Hospital and Seth Gordhandas Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Omkar","family":"Matele","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurosurgery, King Edward Memorial Hospital and Seth Gordhandas Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Saswat Kumar","family":"Dandpat","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of 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