Extracranial repair of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea.
BACKGROUND
Extracranial techniques, which have none of the inherent morbidity associated with intracranial techniques, can successfully repair rhinological cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistulas.


METHODS
A series of five consecutive adult patients with persistent rhinological CSF fistulas were reviewed retrospectively.


RESULTS
The success rate for initial closure was 60%. On the second operation both failures were successfully repaired.


CONCLUSIONS
The external approach is a safe, successful, alternative approach for the surgical repair of rhinological CSF fistulas.
Bartley
J
J
Department of Otolaryngology, Green Lane Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. jbartley@ihug.co.nz
D000328:Adult; D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005005:Ethmoid Sinus / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed