World’s First: Surgeons Remove Spinal Tumor Through Eye Socket

In a groundbreaking medical milestone, surgeons at the University of Maryland Medical Center have successfully removed a spinal tumor through a patient’s eye socket—a pioneering achievement never before attempted in the world of minimally invasive neurosurgery.

Karla Flores, 19, was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive chordoma that wrapped around her cervical spine and compressed her spinal cord. Traditional surgical approaches posed enormous risks, threatening damage to vital nerves and blood vessels that could have left her with major disabilities or worse.

Faced with this daunting prognosis, neurosurgeon Dr. Mohamed A.M. Labib and his multidisciplinary team designed a new path: a “transorbital” approach through the eye socket. Previously used only for brain tumor surgeries, this technique was refined for spinal surgery after extensive research and practice on cadavers. The innovative corridor allowed the surgeons to bypass external incisions and critical anatomical obstacles, preserving Karla’s neurological function while achieving full tumor removal.

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Following the pioneering surgery, Karla underwent proton radiation and a spinal fusion to stabilize her neck. Today, at age 20, she is cancer-free, steadily regaining her strength, and faces the future with renewed hope.

“This is the kind of transformative surgical innovation that challenges established boundaries and opens possibilities for patients once considered inoperable,” Dr. Labib said.

The successful outcome has inspired global interest, signaling a new era in neurosurgery—one where anatomical ingenuity, cutting-edge technology, and team collaboration can deliver lifesaving results and a better quality of life for patients facing the most complex tumors.