Modified Dandy Stair-Step Incision for Retrosigmoid Craniotomies to Reduce Postoperative Complications in…

Cohort studyJournal of neurological surgery. Part B, Skull base· Oct 2026

Modified Dandy Stair-Step Incision for Retrosigmoid Craniotomies to Reduce Postoperative Complications in Skull Base Surgery.

Jean Filo, Omar Alwakaa, John B Park, Rafael A Vega

Skull BaseCohort studyQ3IF 1.1

Modified stair-step incision linked to fewer wound complications after retrosigmoid craniotomy

Modified Dandy Stair-Step Incision for Retrosigmoid Craniotomies to Reduce Postoperative Complications in Skull Base Surgery.

Jean Filo … Rafael A Vega

Journal of neurological surgery · Oct 2026 · Q3 in Neurology

Background

Retrosigmoid craniotomies are prone to postoperative complications, including wound complications, necessitating careful surgical closure.

Methods

With prior craniotomies or less than 1 month of follow-up were excluded.

n = 73 patients

Results

wound complications far less common with the modified technique

3.4%

Modified Dandy group

15.9%

Control group

More results

Among 73 patients, 29 (39.7%) underwent the modified Dandy technique.

Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups, with 41 of them being female (56.2%), the median age being 59 (interquartile range [IQR]: 50-67), and 44 having never smoked (60.3%).

More results

The most common indications for surgery were vestibular schwannomas (53.4%), meningiomas (24.7%), and metastatic lesions (15.1%), while the rest were other lesions (6.8%).

Three patients in the control group (6.8%) had multiple complications, one of whom required multiple reoperations for persistent pseudo-meningocele.

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Conclusion

DISCUSSION: This study suggests that the modified technique may reduce wound-related complications following retrosigmoid craniotomies, though further research is required to confirm its efficacy.

Modified Dandy Stair-Step Incision for Retrosigmoid Craniotomies to Reduce Postoperative Complications in Skull Base Surgery.

Modified Dandy Stair-Step Incision for Retrosigmoid Craniotomies to Reduce Postoperative Complications in Skull Base Surgery.

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