Cranial base fracture and rhino cerebrospinmal fluid leakage. A case report

Oto cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurs frequently in skull base fractures but it is not always recognized which may produce potentially serious consequences on the prognosis. The aim of this study is to present a case of an extended skull base fracture with bad defined symptoms. A male in coma was admitted to our hospital following a road accident. Imaging revealed a fracture that transversally crossed the squamous occipital bone and petrous portions of temporal bone on the right, the sphenoid bone, and the left zygomatic bone. Ten days later the patient regained consciousness presenting symptoms of right complete hearing loss, cephalalgia and fever. Lumbar puncture showed a Gram negative germ growth. After specific antibiotic treatment he underwent surgery with exclusion of the middle ear and the mastoid from outside by obliterating the Eustachian tube, sealing the surgical cavity (subtotal petrosectomy) with abdominal fat and closing the external auditory canal as a blind sac. At the same time, nasal fibroendoscopy was also performed to close the fistulas in the sphenoid region. Since the cephalalgia persisted further CT examination was performed and revealed another fracture rima in the ethmoid bone. Nasal fibroendoscopy was performed again to close this fistula. The symptoms thus disappeared and the patient has continued to be symptom-free during the two years follow-up. Skull base fractures may involve various bone structure (petrous portion of temporal bone, ethmoid, sphenoid, parietal bone). As a result of the complex anatomy of the skull base, the fracture may damage numerous vital structures (cranial nerves, internal carotid artery, cavernous sinus, jugular vein etc) and the dura mater, causing cerebrospinal fluid leak. When the fracture in the petrous bone is transversal, it is highly important not to delay surgery. In fact the otic capsule does not repair but the bone step is covered by a thin layer of fibrous tissue. For this reason patients, with clear damage to the otic capsule, risk meningitis. Fistulas in the ethmoid are the most difficult to diagnose and the easiest to underestimate. It is fundamental to follow the appropriate diagnostic procedure.