title: [Delayed traumatic CSF-fistulas: a retrospective analysis].
abstract: Immediate posttraumatic CSF-fistulas are a well known entity after severe head injury. Delayed onset of rhinorrhea is considered to be rare. In the last 5 years 7 patients were treated in our department, who developed rhinorrhea 2-25 years after trauma. All patients went through episodes of meningitis. In 4 cases intermittent rhinorrhea was reported. In all cases a bony defect of the anterior skull base was detected by coronal bone window CT-scan. In three of them an encephalocele was revealed by MR-scanning. Treatment consisted in reconstruction of anterior skull base with a pedicled galeal-pericranial flap via a bifrontal craniotomy and went out without any complications. Delayed rhinorrhea after severe head injury is not a rare curiosity. In cases of bony defects after head injury reconstruction of anterior skull base is recommended to prevent episodes of recurrent meningitis.
authors.affiliation: Neurochirurgische Klinik, Justus Liebig-Universität, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kästner
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schroth
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Deinsberger
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jödicke
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Böker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed