Exposure of midline cranial base without a facial incision through a combined craniofacial-transfacial procedure.
OBJECTIVE
A single-stage combined craniofacial-transfacial approach that exposes the midline cranial base without visible facial incisions is described.


METHODS
Between 1992 and 1998, eight patients underwent surgery for five different anterior cranial base pathological findings: four angiofibromas, one mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, one esthesioneuroblastoma, one odontogenic myxoma, and one encephalocele. In all cases, the surgical exposure consisted of a bicoronal scalp incision with a bifrontal craniotomy and fronto-orbitonasal osteotomy, and then a sublabial incision for transmaxillary exposure.


RESULTS
Gross total resection was achieved in five cases. The encephalocele was resected with complete reconstruction of the bony defect. Seven patients developed complications, primarily wound infections, cerebrospinal fluid leaks, and anemia. Postoperative Karnofsky Performance Scale scores ranged between 80 and 100 (mean, 92.5). Long-term follow-up information (mean, 56 mo; median, 59.5 mo; range, 5-108 mo) was available for all patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Large anterior cranial base lesions can be resected and excellent cosmetic outcomes can be achieved with a single-stage combined transfacial-craniofacial approach that exposes the entire midline cranial base and requires no facial incisions.
Feiz-Erfan
Iman
I
Division of Neurological Surgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Han
Patrick P
PP
Spetzler
Robert F
RF
Porter
Randall W
RW
Klopfenstein
Jeffrey D
JD
Ferreira
Mauro A T
MA
Beals
Stephen P
SP
Joganic
Edward F
EF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods; D004677:Encephalocele / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011859:Radiography; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D019291:Skull Base / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery