[Reconstruction after tumor resection of the anterior skull base with an of abdominal fat graft].
OBJECTIVE
Reconstruction of the anterior skull base is a surgical stage as significant as tumor removal. The quality of the reconstruction is the primary determinant of postoperative mortality, morbidity. The aim of our work was to assess the results of a reconstruction process combining: 1) a pericranium graft held by biological glue to complete the dura mater; 2) an abdominal fat graft supported by a Silastic arch to maintain the neurological structures.


METHODS
This was a retrospective study. 55 patients (44 men and 11 women), 59 mean age (14 - 78), were analyzed. 45 had a malignant tumor and 10 a benign tumor. 35 patients were treated using a mixed approach and 18 using a trans frontal-sinus approach alone. Forty-three patients treated for a malignant tumor underwent postoperative radiotherapy. Results were analyzed according to 3 periods: 1) immediate postoperative period (<25 days); 2) early postoperative period (25 days - 3 months); 3) late postoperative period (> 3 months).


RESULTS
None of the patients were lost to follow-up. The average follow up was 84 months. All periods considered together, we had five (9.4%) graft infections, 6 (11.3%) CSF leaks and 1 (1.8%) cases of meningitis.


CONCLUSIONS
We use a simple technique for reconstruction. Postoperative complications were exceptional, even after postoperative radiotherapy. Medium and long-term results are good and similar to those obtained with other processes used for reconstruction of the anterior skull base reconstruction.
Righini
Ch A
ChA
(1) Service ORL, CHU de Grenoble 38043 Grenoble cedex 09. CRighini@chu-grenoble.fr
Delalande
C
C
Soriano
E
E
Schmerber
S
S
Passagia
J G
JG
Reyt
E
E
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000637:transplantation*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*