Efficacy of a new instrument for dural defect repair in anterior skull base reconstruction: a technical note.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The anterior skull base is a deep and narrow area, which makes dural repair technically challenging. The goal of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy of a new instrument for anterior skull base dural repair. METHODS: Ten patients underwent surgery via the transbasal approach, combined with either a transfacial or a transnasal endoscopic resection. The dural repair was performed prior to tumor resection, and the new instrument was used to suture the fascia lata in an underlay fashion. The repaired dural defect was then covered with a pericranial flap. RESULTS: The follow-up period ranged from 2 to 18 months, with an average follow-up time of 8.7 months. During this period, none of the patients experienced cerebrospinal fluid leakage, meningitis, tension pneumocephalus, abscess formation, or flap necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the use of this instrument combined with the technique of suturing the fascia lata in an underlay fashion and covering it with a pericranial flap, may be an effective alternative approach to anterior skull base reconstruction.