Free rectus abdominis muscle reconstruction of the anterior skull base

Pericranial flaps and galeal frontalis myofascial flaps can be useful for separating the cranial space from the paranasal sinuses and the nasopharynx, but they cannot provide reliable separation and protection of the brain from bacterial flora of the upper airway in patients who previously have received high dose radiation therapy and undergone craniotomy, or required extensive resection of the cranial base. The free rectus abdominis muscle flap, on the other hand, can provide a good alternative for reconstruction of the anterior skull base in such difficult cases, and give good results. In six cases using free rectus abdominis flaps, there have been neither cerebrospinal fluid leaks nor meningitis. There was one flap failure due to venous congestion.