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The use of the frontalis musculocutaneous flap as a pedicle island flap offers some advantages in frontal reconstruction. It can be used for immediate reconstruction following the ablation of a small or moderate area, even after harvesting of the frontal flap for nasal reconstruction. Because of its intact lateral bundle, it has the potential to carry some sensory innervation, albeit minimal, to the reconstructed area. We have found the frontalis musculocutaneous flap, when used as a pedicle island flap, to be an adaptable and dependable alternative flap for repairs after small or moderate resections in the frontal region. This flap could be performed immediately and in one stage, have a low morbidity rate, and allow a rapid aesthetic restoration; and, it is easy to perform. In two cases, we have observed some degree of venous congestion in the island during the early postoperative period but with success in final healing. The experience demonstrates that this flap should be considered as another valuable tool in reconstructive efforts directed at the forehead. We propose a novel method for the forehead reconstruction using the frontalis musculocutaneous island flap. A case is presented that demonstrates the use of this flap for repair in a depressed frontal defect.

Certain clinical conditions exist in which a section of cranial bone is removed but not immediately replaced at the initial procedure. Preservation of this bone can provide a valuable autogenous donor source for a future reconstructive procedure. The purpose of our study was to compare the volume retention of fresh autogenous bone with that of preserved autogenous bone as inlay and onlay cranial grafts. Two bone grafts were harvested from the skull of 15 adult New Zealand White rabbits. The graft volumes were calculated, and the graft were preserved in a normal saline-antibiotic solution at -20 degrees C. Three months later, during the second procedure, a fresh graft was harvested and then placed in the preexisting occipital defect as an inlay graft. Also at this time, the preserved grafts were placed, one as an inlay graft in the fresh occipital defect and the other as an onlay graft in the frontal region. The animals were sacrificed 3 months later, and the percentage of graft volume retention was determined. The fresh inlay grafts had a mean volume retention of 85.1 percent, while the preserved inlay nad onlay grafts had 61.8 and 75.9 percent mean volume retention, respectively. It is concluded that while fresh cranial autograft remains the "gold standard" for craniofacial reconstruction, preserved autogenous cranial bone is a viable alternative for inlay and onlay grafting of the craniofacial region.

Frontal sinus fractures are relatively uncommon maxillofacial injuries, making up only 5 to 12 percent of all facial fractures. Associated intracranial, ophthalmologic, and other maxillofacial injuries are very common because of the force of injury required to fracture the frontal bone. High-resolution computed tomography of the frontal region in multiple planes is essential for predicting the degree of frontal injury, associated injuries, and the type of procedure indicated. Exploration of the frontal sinus with reduction alone is reserved for a small minority of very simple fractures. Most frontal sinus fractures will require the obliteration of the sinus. This is achieved in the majority of instances with preservation of the posterior wall. Those with more extensive injuries and the presence of a cerebrospinal fluid leak will require frontal sinus cranialization after repair of the dural injuries. In rare instances, primary bone grafts will be required. In both cranialization and obliteration procedures, the nasofrontal ducts must be managed appropriately to avoid complications. Newer techniques involving endoscopic image-guided surgery may offer an alternative for a small subset of patients with frontal sinus injury.

Although loss of the sideburn and temporal scalp with subsequent alopecia is relatively frequent as a consequence of traumatic, surgical, and iatrogenic processes, not many techniques of sideburn reconstruction have been reported. We present a two-stage technique to correct the long-sideburns when there is an associated temporal alopecic defect due to trauma or surgery by means of an expanded supra-auricular trapezoidal flap. The method can achieve not only a satisfactory appearance of the sideburn but also a normal capillary line from the occipital to the frontal region.

Premature closure of the lambdoid suture may result in abnormalities in skull shape not only in the parieto-occipital region, but also in the frontal region and at the vertex of the skull. Although most of these abnormalities are mild, some constitute significant abnormalities in shape and therefore require specific surgical correction. In this report, we describe our approach from five patients we have treated and followed for 6 to 24 months with abnormalities characteristic of unilateral and bilateral lambdoid synostosis. We describe our approach to the simultaneous correction of frontal, occipital, and abnormal vertical height skeletal abnormalities in one operative procedure. To date, no negative neurologic sequelae have resulted from this operative approach, but significant improvement in skull form has been appreciated.