Post-traumatic cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea [minimally invasive procedures reduce number of craniotomies]

ABSTRACT

In this study, 212 patients with post-traumatic cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] rhinorrhea were evaluated shortly [within few hours] after head trauma, they were arranged into two groups [A and B]. It was concluded that in post-traumatic CSF rhinorrhea whenever possible, the repair of the dura [during early surgical intervention for another emergency intracranial lesions] gives an excellent chance for clean healing of the dura-arachnoid tear with subsequently less incidence of complications and CSF leak. Otherwise, conservative management including minimally invasive procedures can achieve spontaneous sealing of the fistulae in a high percentage of patients. Trans- sphenoidal approach is another less invasive procedure that reduces the overall number of craniotomies for the treatment of persistent CSF rhinorrhea