Am J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg | Volume 3, Issue 7 | Case Series | Open Access

Delayed Traumatic Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea from Frontal Sinus-Management via External Surgical Approach and Review of the Literature

Konstantina Chrysouli^1,2*, Vasileios Papanikolaou¹, Aristeidis Chrysovergis¹, Efthymios Kyrodimos¹ and Evangelos Giotakis¹

¹Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University of Athens Medical School, Greece
²Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Penteli Children Hospital, Greece

^*Correspondance to: Konstantina Chrysouli 

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Abstract

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea is frequently encountered after a fracture of the skull base.
Individual fractures of the posterior wall of the frontal sinus after brain injury are uncommon. We present a case of a 33 year-old- man with a distant history of scull base injury after a traffic accident; 12 years ago. He presented with intermittent rhinorrhea and reported 2 episodes of bacterial meningitis the last seven years since the injury. CSF leakage was confirmed with β2-transferrin testing. CT and MRI imaging revealed a defect of the posterior and superior wall of the left frontal sinus and an ipsilateral meningoencephalocele. Meningoplasty and closure of the osseous defect with an osteoplastic flap was performed via an external surgical approach; however, patient who present with a short or/and distant history of traumatic brain injury should be evaluated for complication of a CSF leak.

Keywords:

CSF rhinorrhea; Frontal sinus; Osteoplasty; Meningoencephalocele; β2-transferrin; Skull base injury; Cerebrospinal fluid leak

Citation:

Chrysouli K, Papanikolaou V, Chrysovergis A, Kyrodimos E, Giotakis E. Delayed Traumatic Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea from Frontal Sinus- Management via External Surgical Approach and Review of the Literature. Am J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020; 3(7): 1111..