Surgical treatment of frontoethmoidal encephalocele: A case report

This study reports a patient affected by congenital frontoethmoidal encepha locele. The cause of this malformation is unknown. A preoperative selective diagnosis evaluation is necessary. The workup should include an accurate c linical examination associated with radiological study (two- and three-dime nsional computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, etc). The aim of t he surgical treatment is to restore the functional brain tissue in the cran ial cavity, perform dural repair, correct bone lack and other associated fa cial malformations (hypertelorism, orbital dystopia, etc.). A multidiscipli nary team approach is necessary to resolve the brain herniation and to corr ect splanchnocranium malformations frequently associated with encephalocele . Cranial flap with orbital osteotomies has been performed; this operation permits correction of the hypertelorism and of the orbital dystopia associa ted with this malformation. In bone reconstructions, miniplates have been u sed as fixation devices. In adults we generally use titanium, but resorbabl e devices are required in children because of growing tissues. A restoratio n of craniofacial malformations with good aesthetic and functional results is achieved with early surgery.