Cranial bone grafts in forehead reconstruction after resection for benign tumors

Cranial bone graft was first used in forehead reconstruction by Muller and König as early as 1890. Because cranial bone graft is the ideal material for almost all facial and skull repairs, surgeons have subsequently used this technique to repair skull defects. In fact, membranous bone (calvaria) is superior to endochondral bone (ilium, rib) and maintains its volume to a significantly greater extent than endochondral bone. The authors, after reviewing the literature, report 3 cases of forehead benign tumors treated by resection and primary reconstruction using cranial bone grafts. The preoperative computed tomographic scanning should lead to appropriate diagnosis and treatment planning, which includes total excision and primary bone grafting of the defect to prevent soft-tissue contraction. Copyright © 2013 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.