Abstract

GARCIA-ROCO PEREZ, Oscar N.. Traumatic cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea.: Our experience in diagnosing and treating this illness. Rev Cubana Estomatol [online]. 2006, vol.43, n.2. ISSN 0034-7507.

A longitudinal, descriptive and observational study was undertaken from January to December, 2003 at “Manuel Ascunce Domenech” clinical and surgical hospital in Camaguey province, for the purpose of evaluating the diagnostic and therapeutic management of traumatic cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea. After obtaining their informed consent, 16 patients from the Emergency Dental Service were selected. Eleven of them were males and 32% was in the 15-29 years old group. Associated symptoms, supplementary studies, medical & surgical treatment, complications and recovery period were considered. Descriptive and inference statistics were used. The most frequent symptoms were headaches (87,5%), anosmia and dizziness. The most effective diagnosing methods were visual survey (100%), simple CT and rhinoscopy. The most common treatment regimes were antibiotic therapy and LeFort and nasoethmoidal fracture reduction with 62,5% and 87,5% of cases respectively. Recovery was satisfactory in 81,3% of cases, although two (12,5%) suffered complications from meningitis.

Keywords : facial fractures [diagnosis]; facial fractures [complications]; CSF rhinorrhea.