Midfacial Degloving: The Best Alternative for Treatment of Trans-sphenoidal Meningocele of the Pterygopalatine Fossa

ABSTRACT

Trans-sphenoid anterobasal temporal lobe meningoceles are rare and can be associated with temporal lobe epilepsy or recurrent meningitis. Surgical treatment is described via complicated infratemporal or intracranial approaches with high morbidity. A 32-year-old man presented with an 18-year history of two types of seizures and confirmed epileptic activity in electroencephalogram. A trans-sphenoid meningocele in the left pterygopalatine fossa was found on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. A midfacial degloving was chosen instead of a large neurosurgical approach to remove it and to repair the dura defect with lyophilized dura, collagen, and abdominal fat. The postoperative course was uneventful without visible scars and the patient remains free of seizures without antiepileptic medication 3 years after surgery. Although midfacial degloving is not described yet as a treatment of trans-sphenoid meningoceles, this approach proved to be fast, safe, effective, and reliable and should be considered as the only alternative to large external approaches.

KEYWORDS

Midfacial degloving - trans-sphenoid meningocele - pterygopalatine fossa

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