Extraordinarily Long-Term Posttraumatic Cerebrospinal Fluid Fistula

ABSTRACT

Most posttraumatic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage is noticed by the patients with the first symptom, rhinorrhea. A 38-year-old woman presented with frequent clear continuous rhinorrhea and otorrhea for 5 years after basilar skull fracture. After this, meningitis was developed with subsequent CSF fistula. Her clinical symptom was improved by medical treatment. The dural defect and CSF leakage were not detected by computerized tomography (CT) cisternography. We report a rare case of persistent posttraumatic CSF fistula that continued for five years.