[The key points to the successful repair of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical experience of endoscopic repair for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea in our department in the last 4 years.

METHOD: Clinical data of 16 patients with CSF rhinorrhea who underwent nasal endoscopic repair was analyzed retrospectively. The effect of etiology, image data, location of CSF leaks and surgical techniques on treatment were discussed.

RESULT: Among the 16 patients, 10 were diagnosed with spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea, 2 were diagnosed with traumatic CSF rhinorrhea, 3 were diagnosed with CSF rhinorrhea after catching cold and 1 was diagnosed with meningo-encephalocele in with CSF rhinorrhea. The leak was located by CT scan in 11 cases, by MRI in 7 cases. The common locations of the defect were the frontal sinus (3 cases), cribriform roof (3 cases), sphenoid sinus (6 cases) and the nasal cavity top (4 cases). All the cases were successfully cured after the first nasal endoscopic repair with autologous materials. None of patients had a reoccurrence during 10 to 42 months follow-up time.

CONCLUSION: The application of CT and MRC before surgery which could make an accurate diagnosis of the location and the size of the defect. The correct selection of repair materials, processing planting bed around the leakage and complete contacting leakage with graft bed are the key points to the successful surgery of CSF rhinorrhea.