Anterior Skull Base Closing by Polyethylene Implants

We report our experience about closing anterior skull base by polyethylene implants. The most common postoperative complications are cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak with secondary meningitis. We use multilayer closing to optimize the waterproofness. We developed a closing technique with 2 layers by polyethylene implants. From 2012 to 2016, 35 patients underwent anterior skull base surgery closing by polyethylene implants (10 orbital tumors, 10 olfactory groove meningiomas, 5 esthesioblastomas, 10 epidermoid carcinomas).

The aim of this technique is to provide better management of complications and shorten the surgery. Polyethylene implants can be resized and the bio compatibility is excellent.

At the end of the follow-up (median 29 months) only two patients had CSF leak 10 days and 5 days after the surgery. Polyethylene implants are easy, safe for the closing of anterior skull base tumor surgery with an excellent biocompatibility.