In a world-first medical feat, surgeons performed an extraordinary 19-hour procedure to remove a dangerous spinal tumor from 19-year-old Karla Flores—by entering through her eye socket.

The tumor was located at the craniocervical junction, the delicate intersection where the brain meets the spine—an area so risky that traditional surgery carried life-threatening odds.

The “Third Nostril” Technique

Leading the team was neurosurgeon Dr. Mohamed A. M. Labib, who devised an entirely new surgical path, dubbed the “third nostril.” This pioneering technique allowed them to reach the tumor without making a single large external incision.

The team skillfully removed sections of Karla’s cheekbone and eye socket, carefully moved her eyeball aside, and navigated through the facial bone to access the tumor directly. Once the tumor was removed, her facial structure was reconstructed using titanium plates and bone from her hip.

A Historic Turning Point

This pioneering method not only left Karla cancer-free but also resulted in no visible external scars.

Karla’s case is being hailed as a turning point in modern neurosurgery. It is a monumental victory for the patient and offers new hope for thousands of future treatments for deep-seated brain and spinal tumors.