Esthetic Craniofacial Bony and Skull Base Reconstruction Using Flap Wrapping Technique

Abstract

For a safe and esthetic skull base reconstruction combined with repair of craniofacial bone defects, the authors introduce the flap wrapping technique in this study. This technique consists of skull base reconstruction using the vastus lateralis muscle of an anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap, and structural craniofacial bony reconstruction using an autologous calvarial bone graft. The key to this technique is that all of the grafted autologous bone is wrapped with the vascularized fascia of the ALT free flap to protect the grafted bone from infection and exposure. Two anterior skull base tumors combined with craniofacial bony defects were included in this study. The subjects were a man and a woman, aged 18 and 64. Both patients had preoperative proton beam therapy. First, the skull base defect was filled with vastus lateralis muscle, and then structural reconstruction was performed with an autologous bone graft and a fabricated inner layer of calvarial bone, and then the grafted bone was completely wrapped in the vascularized fascia of the ALT free flap. By applying this technique, there was no intracranial infection or grafted bone exposure in these 2 patients postoperatively, even though both patients had preoperative proton beam therapy. Additionally, the vascularized fascia wrapped bone graft could provide a natural contour and prevent collapse of the craniofacial region, and this gives patients a better facial appearance even though they have had skull base surgery.