The maxillofacial surgeon and cranial base surgery

The paper reviews the role of the maxillofacial surgeon, surgical approaches and osteotomies available to allow comprehensive access to cranial base tumours. Maxillo facial reconstruction using free vascularised flaps to rehabilitate the patients is highlighted. Such reconstruction may also require vascularised bone grafts. The range of microvascular free tissue transfer in cranial base surgery is discussed. The need not to merely reconstruct but to rehabilitate the patient is stressed. The benefits of the latest imaging and navigation systems are outlined.