Abstract
Surgical reconstruction of the skull base and cranium adjacent to open paranasal sinuses
with alloplastic materials is problematic secondary to an increased risk of implant
infection in these locations. The authors report their initial experience with the
use of a porous polyethylene implant for closure of defects in these locations in
20 patients, in 14 of these with the implant placed in direct contact with the mastoid
or paranasal simuses. The implant is flexible, which facilitates surgical reconstruction
of the cranial base, and porous in nature, which enhances soft tissue and bone ingrowth
in decrease the risk of infection. The implant is radiolucent on plain roentgenograms
and CT, and produces no imaging artifact on MRI. The implant was utilized for a variety
of skull base of cranium adjacent to sinus reconstructive applications with no infectious
complications, with a follow-up period ranging from 8 to 50 months. This preliminary
experience suggests that the alloplast may be a useful adjunct in skull base reconstruction,
and further evaluation of its use in this application is warranted.
