Repair of anterior base of skull with free latissimus dorsi flap

After craniofacial resection for ethmoid and nasal cancer the resulting defect in the anterior base of skull often is a problem because of liquorrhoea, followed by meningitis and brain herniation. Two approaches were used for surgery of ethmoid and nasal cancer involving the anterior base of skull-the transfrontal and the transethmoidal. The neurosurgeon performs the transfrontal approach, an additional lateral rhinotomy and ethmoidectomy is made by the ENT-surgeon. Seven patients underwent radical operation with immediate repair of the skull base defect performed in four and delayed repair in three cases with a microvascular latissimus dorsi muscle flap. The flap was tailored as a pure muscle transplant if only the base of skull had to be repaired and the surgical cavity had to be obliterated. In three cases a skin paddle was left on the muscle to perform closure of the orbit and of the hard palate. The aim of reconstruction is a good functional and cosmetic result and reduction of postoperative problems-such as brain herniation, CSF-leakage and meningitis-by obliteration of surgical cavities. Furthermore crusting of large cavities and disorders of phonation are reduced. The disadvantage of limited direct postoperative tumour control by nasal endoscopy however is justified by an increase of quality of life.