Endoscopically guided midfacial degloving in infants for removal of congenital and acquired midfacial masses

Abstract

Midface degloving allows excellent exposure for a variety of congenital and acquired pediatric facial masses. The petite facial skeleton of the infant and child, however, can limit the utility of this dissection, thereby necessitating external approaches and altered cosmesis. Endoscopic assistance can aid in safe and complete removal of these masses without the need for external surgical approaches. In this series, five infants underwent midfacial degloving for midface lesions. Those masses that could not be adequately visualized underwent midfacial degloving with endoscopic assistance. Successful surgical removal was accomplished without complications, with follow-up ranging from 1 to 5 years. No surgical nasal deformity, vestibular stenosis, or decrease in midfacial growth was noted. Midfacial degloving with endoscopic guidance in selected cases is a cosmetically appealing option for lesions not otherwise resectable by standard midface degloving.