Management of post-traumatic cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea

Out of 2760 patients with head injury seen from January 1990 to June 1994 at Nishtar Hospital, Multan 64 [2.31%] had cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] leakage. Rhinorrhoea was found in 48 [1.74%] of these which stopped in 36 patients on conservative treatment. However, surgical repair was required in 12 patients, 2 of whom had involvement of the frontal sinus and 10 had the fracture extending into the cribriform plate. Five underwent bifrontal craniotomy, exploration and repair. In 7, precise localization of the defect through C.T. cisternography enabled the repair to be carried out through a unilateral frontal approach, thus reducing recovery time, morbidity and mortality