Reconstruction of the cranial base following tumour resection

Abstract

Twenty-four patients have undergone resection of tumours involving the cranial base by a multidisciplinary team consisting of a neurosurgeon, ENT surgeon and plastic surgeon. The resultant defects of the cranial base have been reconstructed using local fascial flaps, transposition of local muscle flaps and microsurgical transfer of free muscle flaps. Indications for reconstruction have included obliteration of paranasal sinuses, coverage of tenuous dural repairs or dural grafts and separation of the nasopharynx from the dura of the frontal and temporal lobes and posterior fossa to prevent CSF leakage and meningitis.