In a historic medical breakthrough, surgeons at the University of Maryland Medical Center successfully removed a spinal tumor by accessing it through a patient’s eye socket—a method never before used to reach the spine.
The patient, 19-year-old Karla Flores, had a rare and life-threatening chordoma tumor wrapped around her cervical spine, dangerously close to critical nerves and blood vessels.
Traditional surgery posed significant risks, so neurosurgeon Dr. Mohamed A.M. Labib and his team pioneered a transorbital approach, creating a precise corridor through the eye socket to reach and remove the tumor.
The surgery not only preserved essential neurological functions but also left no external scarring, a remarkable feat in itself. Previously used for some brain tumors, the technique was adapted for the spine after extensive cadaver studies and multidisciplinary collaboration. Flores later underwent proton radiation and spinal fusion, and is now recovering cancer-free. This innovative approach marks a new era in minimally invasive neurosurgery, expanding what’s possible in treating complex spinal conditions with minimal trauma and maximum precision.
Source: “In First-of-Its-Kind Surgery, Rare Spinal Tumor Removed Through Patient’s Eye Socket at University of Maryland Medical Center.” UMMC Media Relations, May 6, 2025.
