title: The effectiveness of lumbar drainage in the conservative and surgical treatment of traumatic cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  We found no differences in clinicopathologic factors and post-treatment effects between patients who did and did not receive lumbar drains (LDs) in the management of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea. Care should be taken in using LDs, after considering their effectiveness and complications, although routine use of an LD is not indicated in the management of traumatic CSF rhinorrhea.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the role and effectiveness of LDs in patients managed conservatively and surgically.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 117 patients treated for CSF rhinorrhea, 61 were managed conservatively and 56 were initially managed surgically. We compared the clinicopathologic features and factors related to treatment outcome between patients who did and did not receive LDs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 61 conservatively managed patients, 32 were managed without and 29 with LDs. There were no between-group differences in any clinicopathologic factors, recurrence rate, or incidence of meningitis during/after treatment, but duration of hospitalization differed significantly (15.3 vs 23.2 days, p = 0.03). Of 56 surgically managed patients, 24 were managed without and 32 with postoperative LDs. Except for age, there were no between-group differences in clinicopathologic factors. In terms of treatment outcome-related factors, there was no significant difference in recurrence rate, incidence of meningitis, or duration of hospitalization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Gangneung Asan Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Gangneung, South Korea.
authors.forename: Nam-Kyung
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.forename: Gye Song
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Chang-Jin
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Gil Chai
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Yong Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Bong-Jae
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yoo-Sam
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004322:Drainage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013129:Spinal Puncture / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult