Outcomes and Utility of Intracranial Free Tissue Transfer

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Outcomes and Utility of Intracranial Free Tissue Transfer Via otol rhinol Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2021 Apr 21:34894211008699. doi: 10.1177/00034894211008699. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: Complications associated with intracranial vault compromise can be neurologically and systemically devastating. Primary and secondary repair of these deficits require an air and watertight barrier between the intracranial and extracranial environments. This study evaluated the outcomes and utility of using intracranial free tissue transfer as both primary and salvage surgical repair of reconstruction. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of all subjects who underwent intracranial free tissue transfer as primary or salvage repair. RESULTS: A total of 13 intracranial free tissue transfers were performed on 11 subjects: osteocutaneous radial forearm free flaps (n = 6), partial myofascial rectus abdominis flaps (n = 5), temporoparietal fascia flap (n = 1), and serratus anterior myofascial flap (n = 1). Primary reconstruction was performed on 4 subjects with the remaining being salvage repair. Indications for surgery included neoplasm (n = 6 of 11), ballistic trauma (n = 3 of 11), motor vehicle accident (n = 1 of 11), and infection (n = 1 of 11). Three subjects required additional surgical repair for CSF leak and pneumocephalus, with 2 subjects requiring an additional free tissue transfer at a different site. CONCLUSION: In our experience, free tissue transfer is an effective primary and salvage surgical technique in the reconstruction of complex intracranial problems. PMID:33880969 | DOI:10.1177/00034894211008699 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.