A new approach on reconstruction of frontonasal encephalomeningocele assisted with Medpor

The frontoethmoidal encephalomeningocele, which is a congenital brain herniation through skull defect at the frontoethmoidal region, is a common problem in Southeast Asia. Patients usually present with perinasal mass(es), and its pressure affects facial structures resulting to conditions such as telecanthus, medial canthal dystopia, long nose, and elevated medial eyebrows. Currently 1-stage surgical correction is widely accepted. Facial incision is routinely made for accessing the facial structures, removing the mass as well as resecting the covering skin which is usually expanded and redundant. Resultant facial scar is usually extensive and becomes a stigma of the disease even after a surgical correction. This study demonstrates the possibility of doing definitive surgery with minimal facial incision and bone defect reconstruction with the alloplastic material. In this study, we used the porous polyethylene implant for bone defect. This can be an alternative approach to autogenous reconstruction of frontoethmoidal encephalomeningocele.