Delayed cerebrospinal fluid leak following septoplasty.

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2009 Sep;118(9):636-8.
Delayed cerebrospinal fluid leak following septoplasty.
Thakar A, Lal P, Verma R.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
We report on the clinical syndrome of delayed cerebrospinal fluid leak following septoplasty. We describe 2 such cases that we treated, and 1 other case described in the literature. A review of these 3 cases indicates a characteristic clinical and radiologic presentation and a consistent site of cerebrospinal fluid leak. All cases presented with cerebrospinal fluid leak 12 to 22 weeks after septoplasty and had slit-shaped dehiscences at the horizontal lamella of the cribriform plate. Endoscopic repair was successful in all. Delayed cerebrospinal fluid leaks may occur as a consequence of septal surgery.
It is probable that uncontrolled twisting and rocking manipulations of the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid bone are transmitted to, and injure, the cribriform plate.

PMID: 19810603 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]