Use of lateral circumflex femoral artery system free flaps in skull base reconstruction

We present a 10-year retrospective study at a tertiary center designed to evaluate the advantages, complications, and comparative results using lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA) system free flaps for cranial base reconstruction. In this study, a cranial base defect refers to exposed intracranial contents to the skin, paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx, oropharynx, or oral cavity. These defects resulted from resections of primary or recurrent neoplasms or from secondary problems after cranial base surgery. We performed 20 flaps in 20 patients. The selection of flap was as follows: 8 combinations of anterolateral/anteromedial thigh flaps with vastus lateralis muscle or tensor fascia lata flaps, 6 ALT fasciocutaneous flaps, and 6 muscle/myocutaneous flaps. The flap's success rate was 95% (19/20). Early major complications included 1 perioperative death, and there was 1 myocardial infarction. Minor complications included 1 partial (12%) flap loss, 2 temporal cerebrospinal fluid leak, 2 donor-site hematoma, 2 minor wound breakdown, 3 facial nerve weakness, and 4 donor-site numbness. Among 20 patients undergoing LCFA system flap reconstruction, 12 are alive and disease free. Local recurrence occurred in 1 patient. She underwent ablative surgery and a new successful free flap (forearm flap); after 2 years, the patient is disease free. The LCFA system flaps in skull base reconstruction provide versatility in flap design and availability of adequate tissues to fill dead space, and it offers vascularized fascia to augment dural repairs. It also provides a very long pedicle and allows simultaneous flap harvest with low donor-site morbidity.