Dermis fat graft for pediatric exenteration-challenging but rewarding

Orbital exenteration is a destructive and disfiguring surgery and involves removal of the entire orbital contents, soft tissue and often lids as well. We report a case of an eight month old female, with malignant orbital teratoma who underwent lid sparing exenteration for the destructive, locally advanced disease. Three month post surgery she developed recurrence with intracranial extension as well as socket infection with pus discharge. Repeat surgery involved a multispeciality approach for removal of the tumor which was abutting the cavernous sinus posteriorly and ethmoid sinus medially, apart from filling the entire bony orbit. The focus of infection was found to be the retained lacrimal sac. The unhealthy lid skin also had to be sacrificed. The challenges in repeat exenteration of an 8 month old, and the utility of autologous dermis fat graft as a reconstructive option are discussed.