Trans-frontal extracranial approach in repair of cerebrospinal fluid fistula

Abstract

A 35year old African woman presented with a 2-year history of unilateral watery left anterior rhinorrhea, the only other significant feature being a history of severe head injury during childhood. Clinical and radiological evaluation confirmed a cerebrospinal fluid fistula, localized in the inferior portion of the posterior wall of the frontal sinus and ethmoid, no intracranial pathology. Repair was done successfully with a deep temporalis fascial graft through an external transfrontal approach. We report this to buttress the current trend in which less invasive external and endoscopic techniques are replacing intracranial methods. Reduction in morbidity and mortality which arc the merits of this technique are emphasized and the management is discussed.