The Endoscopic Buccal Fat Pad Flap for Closure of Skull Base Defects: A Report of 5 Cases.

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate the clinical utility of the buccal fat pad flap (BFPF) for closing a variety of skull base defects.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of 5 consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic cranial base surgery with endoscopic harvest of BFPF pedicled along the internal maxillary artery for reconstruction of the skull base between October 2013 and November 2014.

RESULTS

All 5 patients had complete take of the BFPFs with mucosalization on postoperative follow-up with no reported complications or cerebrospinal fluid leak.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report on the application of endoscopic BFPF. Our experience suggests that this recently described flap is viable and a useful addition to the armamentarium of the skull base surgeon.