title: Delayed cerebrospinal fluid leak following septoplasty.
abstract: We report on the clinical syndrome of delayed cerebrospinal fluid leak following septoplasty. We describe 2 such cases that we treated, and 1 other case described in the literature. A review of these 3 cases indicates a characteristic clinical and radiologic presentation and a consistent site of cerebrospinal fluid leak. All cases presented with cerebrospinal fluid leak 12 to 22 weeks after septoplasty and had slit-shaped dehiscences at the horizontal lamella of the cribriform plate. Endoscopic repair was successful in all. Delayed cerebrospinal fluid leaks may occur as a consequence of septal surgery. It is probable that uncontrolled twisting and rocking manipulations of the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone are transmitted to, and injure, the cribriform plate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Alok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thakar
authors.forename: Priti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lal
authors.forename: Rohit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Verma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005004:Ethmoid Bone / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors