The technique of cranial bone grafts in the correction of posttraumatic orbital deformities.

ABSTRACT

The technique of split-thickness cranial bone graft for reconstructive orbital surgery, is reported in five patients who sustained extensive orbital trauma. This technique involves exposing the skull via a coronal scalp incision, after which the cranial bone is split in situ along the diploe. The outer table of the cranial bone is then used as a graft to correct orbital defects and other associated bony deformities. Cranial bone grafts have several advantages over other graft sites in orbital reconstruction, including more rapid postoperative recovery, close proximity of donor site to recipient site, and improved survival of cranial bone grafts in experimental studies. Cranial bone grafts are an important source of autogenous tissue for the reconstructive surgeon.