title: The galea frontalis myofascial flap in anterior fossa CSF leaks.
abstract: We report the clinical use of galea frontalis myofascial flaps in the treatment of anterior fossa cerebrospinal fluid leaks after trauma. This flap provides an adequately sized and vascularised barrier between the cranial and nasal cavities through which the cells of the inflammatory response reach the target area. This technique was used in 9 cases with complete success; in 5 out of 9 patients, repair of an anterior cranial base bone defect was also performed with split calvarial bone grafts, harvested from the frontal craniotomy bone. In all patients, neither recurrence of the CSF leakage nor postoperative meningitis or its recurrence were observed.
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery Department, Hospital S. João, Medical School, Oporto, Portugal.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cerejo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baptista
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vaz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Amarante
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guimarães
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid; D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000601:surgery; D005004:Ethmoid Bone / Q000293:injuries*; D005205:Fascia / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000637:transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000637:transplantation; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000150:complications*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*