TEMPORALIS MUSCLE FLAP FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF SKULL BASE DEFECTS

Background. The temporalis muscle flap (TMF) is a valuable reconstructive technique utilized in a variety of challenging defects. However, its use for repair of skull base defects is less commonly reported. Methods. A retrospective chart review was conducted for 35 patients who underwent reconstruction of skull base defects between March 1999 and July 2006 at a tertiary referral hospital. Patients with skull base defects after trauma or extirpative surgery underwent reconstruction with a TMF. The measured outcomes were as follows: defect size/location, need for additional flaps, bone necrosis, hardware exposure, dehiscence, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, and meningitis. Results. Forty-two patients underwent reconstruction with a TMF, and 35/42 patient records were available for review. No flap failures, 1 transient CSF leak, 3 hardware exposures distant from the temporalis recipient site, and 3 hydroxyapatite cement infections or foreign body reaction were observed. Conclusion. The TMF represents a versatile reconstructive technique employed with minimal morbidity and a low complication rate to repair defects of the skull base. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 32: 199-203, 2010