Free tissue transfer for skull base reconstruction - a review

Evolutions in skull base surgery and reconstructive technique have given surgeons the confidence to resect repair increasingly advanced pathologies. Free tissue transfer (FTT) provides a versatile option capable of addressing numerous simultaneous goals. This review highlights some nuances, challenges, considerations performing FTT for reconstruction anterior, central lateral base. combines expert opinion senior authors with those field at large as queried through PubMed searches regarding FTT. Reconstructive goals include separation intracranial from extracranial cavities, obliteration dead space, protection vascular neural structures. Atypical pedicle management is commonly needed, especially endonasal resection. Virtual surgical planning may be beneficial complex bony reconstruction. Familiarity common complications such cerebrospinal fluid leak, nasocutaneous fistula, inferior flap displacement, well associations their development, can help plan minimize morbidity.