THE REPAIR OF FRONTAL ENCEPHALOCELES IN PAPUA-NEW-GUINEA

Frontal encephaloceles are common in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Seventeen cases collected over 7 years are reported. Eleven frontal (sincipital ) encephaloceles were repaired successfully via an extracranial approa ch. One of these patients with a frontonasal encephalocele developed a recurrence following the extracranial approach, which was subsequentl y repaired intracranially. Three patients with small naso-ethmoidal en cephaloceles were repaired intracranially via an extradural approach. The other three cases have not yet had surgical correction. Complex cr aniofacial surgery which corrects hypertelorism as well as the encepha locele is unavailable in the developing world. For the general surgeon in the developing world, the extracranial approach is recommended for the frontonasal encephaloceles, and the intracranial approach for the naso-ethmoidal and naso-orbital encephaloceles. Hydrocephalus and epi lepsy have not developed in the patients.