[Post-traumatic cerebrospinal rhinorrhea managed surgically. Clinical analysis of cases]

47 patients was treated surgically for posttraumatic cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea between 1977 and 1996 in the Department of Neurosurgery in Poznań. Cerebrospinal fluid fistula developed after road accident, less often because of assault, fall etc. Frontobasal fracture usually caused rhinorrhea and was verified by plain X-rays, computed tomography and magnetic resonance. Indications to early surgery were rhinorrhea coexisting with intracranial haematoma or pneumocephalus, optic nerve lesion, the persistent or recurrent rhinorrhea and meningitis. The authors present surgical methods and postoperative complications. Good outcome was in 86%.