Endoscopic repair of cribriform plate cerebrospinal fluid leaks: An easy and reproducible technique sparing the middle turbinate.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of patients with cribriform cerebrospinal fluid leaks undergoing endoscopic repair with an easy and reproducible middle turbinate-sparing technique.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Date was obtained by retrospective chart review and includes a description of the technique with technical pearls and contraindications to the approach.

RESULTS

We report 17 patients who underwent repair of cribriform cerebrospinal fluid leaks with a middle turbinate-sparing technique with 100% success rate at a mean follow up of 38 months. One patient complained of hyposmia. There were no other complications.

CONCLUSIONS

The endoscopic middle turbinate-sparing approach to repair cribriform cerebrospinal fluid leaks using a free mucosal graft is easy, effective, and reproducible.