New Nasopharyngeal Flap for Posterior Skull-base Reconstruction: The Upper-Tongue Flap

Abstract

Introduction

Reconstructions of clival resection are still challenging, and additional reconstructive methods may be necessary to achieve full coverage of the skull-base defect in patients with middle- and lower-clivus disease.

Objective

To describe a new nasopharyngeal flap for the middle and lower clivus.

Methods

Using nasal endoscopy in a cadaver dissection, we demonstrated a new nasopharygeal flap to cover the lower and middle clival resection.

Results

We described a new nasopharyngeal flap capable of covering the lower and middle portion of the clivus.

Discussion

The new nasopharyngeal flap, called the upper-tongue flap, is particularly adequate as an alternative for the reconstruction of middle and lower clivus defects, and it is better used in association with a nasalseptal flap in cases in which the nasalseptal flap alone does not provide enough mucosal coverage.

Conclusion

The new nasopharyngeal flap can be used in the reconstruction of clival resection.

Keywords
nasopharynx; flap; nasal