title: A rare complication of septoplasty: tension pneumocephalus without rhinorrhea.
abstract: This paper describes a tension pneumocephalus without cerebrospinal fluid leak, a rare complication of septoplasty. We present a case of tension pneumocephalus without cerebrospinal fluid leak 1 month after a septoplasty operation. Although endoscopic sinus surgery can be utilized for repair of the defect, intracranially displaced ethmoid bone fragment makes an open approach more feasible. His postoperative course was uneventful and postoperative CT scan revealed no signs of pneumocephalus. Absence of cerebrospinal fluid leak made this case unique in presentation and caused a delay in diagnosis. Severe headache after septoplasty should alert the surgeon to investigate possible intracranial complications.
authors.affiliation: From the *Departments of Neurosurgery and †Otolaryngology, İzmir Katip Çelebi Atatürk Research and Education Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gönül
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Güvenç
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eren
authors.forename: Seçil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arslanoğlu
authors.forename: Nurullah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yüceer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000293:injuries; D005004:Ethmoid Bone / Q000601:surgery; D005206:Fascia Lata / Q000637:transplantation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005626:Frontal Sinus / Q000601:surgery; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery*; D011007:Pneumocephalus / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000009:adverse effects; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed