[Surgical treatment for anterior cerebral hernias]

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Pediatric Surgery
• Craniofacial Surgery

Context:

• Congenital anterior encephaloceles present significant surgical challenges in pediatric patients.
• Treatment often involves complex procedures addressing both the encephalocele and associated craniofacial deformities.

Purpose:

• To describe the authors' experience and surgical approach for treating congenital anterior encephaloceles in children.
• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a comprehensive, one-step surgical principle for these defects.

Summary:

• A cohort of 22 pediatric patients with congenital anterior encephaloceles underwent surgical repair using a principle of removing hernial defects, excising herniation, and reconstructing craniofacial deformities.
• Procedures were performed in a single stage whenever feasible.
• Outcomes included no recurrent encephaloceles, absence of nasal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, no neurological deterioration, and no infectious complications.

Impact:

• The described surgical principle offers a safe and effective method for managing congenital anterior encephaloceles in children.
• The approach leads to favorable cosmetic results and prevents long-term complications such as recurrence and CSF leakage.
• This study contributes to the understanding of optimal surgical strategies for complex pediatric craniofacial anomalies.