Abstract
Objective
The aim of our study was to reconstruct soft and hard tissue perforating defects of the anterior skull base in a 1-stage surgical procedure with a combined craniofacial approach.
Methods
Soft and hard tissue defects of the anterior skull base were successfully reconstructed in 43 patients during a 1-stage surgery through the use of frontalis muscle galea aponeurotica skull flaps with 1 or 2 vascularized pedicles. The skull flap areas were up approximately 7 cm × 14 cm.
Results
Intracranial infection and cerebrospinal fluid leakage were not observed in the 43 patients, and all incisions healed. Of 33 malignant tumor patients, 25 patients received follow-up examinations for longer than 2 years, and 18 patients survived for 2 years.
Conclusion
Frontalis muscle galea aponeurotica skull pedicle flaps provided a constant blood supply and resulted in soft and thin tissue. The pedicle flaps, together with the external cranial bone plate, strengthened the support, but still allowed for bending and shaping. In addition, the flap harvesting approach was consistent with surgery approach, without aesthetic compromises.
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Liu, K., Wang, G., Zhang, H. et al. Reconstruction of anterior skull base defects using frontalis muscle galea aponeurotica skull pedicle flaps. Chin. -Ger. J. Clin. Oncol. 12, 257–260 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10330-013-1163-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10330-013-1163-5