Percutaneous computer tomography-guided technique to close postsurgical cerebrospinal fluid fistulas of the frontal sinus.

BACKGROUND

The occurrence of cerebrospinal fluid fistulas of the frontal sinus after anterior skull base surgery is not rare. The extracerebral techniques to repair cerebrospinal fluid fistulas are often used, especially because they avoid open-air surgical operations.

METHODS

A percutaneous CT-guided technique to close postsurgical cerebrospinal fluid fistulas of the frontal sinus in three patients after anterior skull base surgery is presented in this report. Ten millimeters of human fibrin glue was injected into the frontal sinus through one of the burr holes of the bone flap by an 18-gauge spinal needle.

RESULTS

After an average follow-up period of 2.8 years, all three patients are in excellent general and neurological conditions and have not shown any further signs of rhinoliquorrhea.

CONCLUSIONS

The presented percutaneous CT-guided technique can be considered a valid and harmless solution to closer small or moderate cerebrospinal fluid fistula that occurred after anterior skull base surgery.