[Reconstruction of the frontal sinus with a calvarium split galea periosteum transplant after inflammatory...

After reconstruction of the frontal sinus with alloplastic material, with or without obliteration of the lumen, inflammatory complications may occur. The authors present a plastic-surgical functional reconstruction technique for revision surgery in cases of inflammatory complications following frontal sinus implantation of alloplastic material, by means of a modified autologous calvarian split graft. The inflammatory complications after primary reconstruction or obliteration of the frontal sinus occurred after a period of 1-10 years. The previously implanted material was removed from the frontal sinus and the anterior wall was reconstructed with a combined calvarian split/galea periost-transplant. During follow-up, which ranged from 1-5 years, no further inflammatory complications occurred. Furthermore, an appealing cosmetic result was achieved in all cases. We conclude that the functional and aesthetic result depends primarily on (1) embedding and protection of the graft by an additional covering with a galea-periost-flap, and (2) reconstruction of the frontal drainage pathways.