08/07/2025
In a stunning medical first, surgeons at the University of Maryland Medical Center have successfully removed a spinal tumor through a patient’s eye socket, redefining the limits of what’s surgically possible. Nineteen-year-old Karla Flores was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive chordoma wrapped around her cervical spine and spinal cord. Traditional surgical routes posed high risks, so the team, led by Dr. Mohamed A.M. Labib, pioneered a groundbreaking "transorbital" method, accessing her spine through the delicate corridor behind her eye.
The technique, once used for brain surgeries, had never been applied to the spine until now. Using cutting-edge imaging, anatomical precision, and refined skills honed through cadaver-based research, the team was able to remove the tumor completely while preserving vital neurological functions. No large incisions. No disfigurement. Just a revolutionary path through an unexpected door.
Karla, now 20, is cancer-free and on the road to recovery after additional radiation and spinal fusion procedures. Her story isn’t just about survival, it’s about courage, innovation, and the extraordinary outcomes possible when medical teams dare to challenge what’s never been done.
Source: University of Maryland Medical Center, May 06, 2025 | UMMC Media Relations
