Reconstruction of defects of the anterior cranial fossa during craniofacial tumor resection.

Abstract

Following removal of sizable craniofacial tumors, large defects in the dura of the anterior cranial fossa usually result. Neither the temporal fascia nor the temporal muscle will customarily reach far enough to close these anterior defects. A de-epithelialized forehead flap with an inferior base may be transposed into the defect to achieve watertight closure, even with a large defect. Eight cases are presented in which this method was successfully used.