Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea complicating septoplasty: a novel mechanism of injury.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea after a septoplasty procedure is very rare and potentially life-threatening. We present a case of iatrogenic postseptoplasty CSF rhinorrhea. To the best of our knowledge, only 2 other cases of CSF rhinorrhea complicating septoplasty have previously been reported. However, neither resolved in the manner that our case did, when spontaneous cessation of CSF rhinorrhea unexpectedly occurred upon removal of intranasal splints. We discuss the clinical importance of anatomic variations and potential causative mechanisms of CSF rhinorrhea during septoplasty. Our experience with this case suggests a mechanism of injury to the cribiform plate during septoplasty that has not been described previously.
Department of Otolaryngology, Medway Maritime Hospital, Windmill Rd., Gillingham, Kent ME7 5NY, UK. ackleong@gmail
Annabelle C
AC
Leong
Toral
T
Patel
Faizal
F
Rehman
Manuel
M
Oyarzabal
Paul
P
Gluckman
D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012225:Rhinoplasty; D013165:Splints