Reconstruction of the orbital walls in surgery of the skull base for benign neoplasms.

ABSTRACT

Surgery for benign neoplasm extending into the orbital roof requires immediate reconstruction to avoid complications, which include transmission of the cerebral pulse to the globe, bulbar dystopia, diplopia, and fibrosis of the oculomotor muscles. Many alloplastic materials have been employed for such reconstruction, but currently most authors agree that autologous bone graft is the best option. Using calvarial bone in adults and split ribs in children, we have operated on eight patients for fibrous dysplasia (five cases), neurofibroma (two cases), or meningioma (one case). After a median follow-up period of two years and six months, good morphology of the orbit was maintained with no ocular symptoms.