Surgical treatment of frontoethmoidal encephalocele: a case report

This study reports a patient affected by congenital frontoethmoidal encephalocele. The cause of this malformation is unknown. A preoperative selective diagnosis evaluation is necessary. The workup should include an accurate clinical examination associated with radiological study (two- and three-dimensional computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, etc). The aim of the surgical treatment is to restore the functional brain tissue in the cranial cavity, perform dural repair, correct bone lack and other associated facial malformations (hypertelorism, orbital dystopia, etc.). A multidisciplinary team approach is necessary to resolve the brain herniation and to correct splanchnocranium malformations frequently associated with encephalocele. Cranial flap with orbital osteotomies has been performed; this operation permits correction of the hypertelorism and of the orbital dystopia associated with this malformation. In bone reconstructions, miniplates have been used as fixation devices. In adults we generally use titanium, but resorbable devices are required in children because of growing tissues. A restoration of craniofacial malformations with good aesthetic and functional results is achieved with early surgery.