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Updated: Jul 5, 2026
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Minimally Invasive Thumb-sized Pterional Craniotomy for Surgical Clip Ligation of Unruptured Anterior Circulation Aneurysms
Published on: August 11, 2015
Frontozygomatic titanium cranioplasty in frontosphenotemporal ("pterional") craniotomy
Shaan M Raza1, Quoc-Anh Thai, Gustavo Pradilla
1Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA.
Neurosurgery
|April 25, 2008
Summary
Titanium cranioplasty effectively prevents frontozygomatic fossa depression after frontosphenotemporal craniotomy. This technique provides outstanding cosmetic results, addressing a common post-surgical complication.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Plastic Surgery
- Biomaterials Engineering
Background:
- Frontosphenotemporal (pterional) craniotomy frequently leads to frontozygomatic fossa depression.
- Temporalis muscle atrophy is the primary cause of this cosmetic defect.
- Existing temporalis muscle reconstruction methods have not yielded definitive solutions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a novel titanium cranioplasty technique for preventing frontozygomatic fossa depression.
- To assess the cosmetic outcomes of this cranioplasty method in patients undergoing frontosphenotemporal craniotomy.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 209 patients undergoing frontosphenotemporal craniotomy for various intracranial pathologies.
- Surgical implementation of frontozygomatic fossa cranioplasty using a titanium plate, with temporalis muscle reattachment.
- Cosmetic outcome assessment in 194 patients with an average follow-up of 9.5 months.
Main Results:
- Outstanding cosmetic results were achieved in all treated patients.
- Only two patients required cranioplasty removal due to complications (orbital pain, infection).
Conclusions:
- Frontozygomatic titanium cranioplasty during frontosphenotemporal craniotomy effectively prevents cosmetic depression.
- The technique offers an excellent aesthetic solution for a common post-operative complication.
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