Use of porous polyethylene for correcting defects of temporal region following transposition of temporalis myofascial flap

摘要

Transposition of the temporalis myofascial fap results in permanent aesthetic stigma in the donor site. reconstruction of this deformity is desirable. The Authors present personal experience in the use of a porous polyethylene prosthesis to camoufage the temporal defects fol- lowing transposition of the temporalis myofascial fap. From 2002 to 2005, 12 patients (5 male, 7 female, age range 36-84 years, mean 60), following the transposition of the temporalis myofascial fap, underwent reconstruction of the temporal region defect using porous high- density polyethylene temporal implants. The majority of the neoplasms removed proved to be squamous cell carcinomas of the alveolar crest or of the sinusal antrum. The standard surgical technique was used, namely, hemicoronal access and placement of 12 porous high- density polyethylene prostheses (5 left, 7 right). The size of the implants to be used (small, medium, large) was decided during the surgical operation. of the 12 patients, 2 underwent post-operative radiotherapy, 6 weeks after the implantation of the prosthesis, without adopting any particular precautions to protect the area directly involved in the prosthesis implant. All patients are alive and free from disease, and implant placement appears to be free from post-operative complications. During the period of radiotherapy no complications. directly or indirectly related to the prosthetic implant, arose. Placement of the high-density polyethylene prosthesis fulflled its flling effect on the defcit with a cosmetic success rate of 90%, as it was well integrated with no evident discontinuity between the edges of the prosthesis and the surrounding tissue or any alteration in the physiological convexity of the treated region. There were no incidents of pain or dysaesthesia of the skin covering the prosthesis. in conclusion, reconstruction of the temporal defect after temporalis myofascial fap transposition with the use of high-density polyethylene implants is an easy and safe method, with excellent functional and aesthetic results.