ANTERIOR CRANIAL BASE RECONSTRUCTION USING A HYDROXYAPATITE-TRICALCIUMPHOSPHATE COMPOSITE (CERATITE(R)) AS A BONE SUBSTITUTE

The craniofacial approach to cranial base tumors has widened the opera bility of tumors with intracranial invasion. However, the resulting Sk ull base defect must be reconstructed adequately to prevent postoperat ive morbidity and mortality. We use hydroxyapatite-tricalciumphosphate ceramic (Ceratite(R)) as a bone substitute material to reconstruct th e skull base defect in combination with the pericranial flap, ensuring separation between the sinonasal cavity and epidural cavity. Although the nasal surface of the Ceratite(R) block is left exposed directly t o the sinonasal cavity, it was Shown to be epithelialized within 6 mon ths postoperatively. Our method is less invasive than any other conven tional method and may offer more chance of curative resection Of tumor s with anterior skull base invasion.