Patterns of Presentation and Management Outcome of Traumatic Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks in a Tertiary Health Institution in Southeast Nigeria

Patterns of Presentation and Management Outcome of Traumatic Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks in a Tertiary Health Institution in Southeast Nigeria

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Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak occurs where there is a breach in the meninges, especially the dura.Most cases present as otorrhoea and/or rhinorrhoea.Most Cloche cases resolve within few days when appropriate conservative measures are instituted.

Occasionally, surgical repair is indicated.Different centres have varied experiences with presentations and management.Data from southeastern Nigeria are rare.

Aim: We present our experience in the management of this condition.Materials and Methods: It is a retrospective study carried out in Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu.Biodata, presenting symptoms, aetiologies, duration of the leak and treatment of patients managed between 2017 and 2020 were retrieved using data extraction template and analysed with SPSS version 23.

Results: Fifty patients were involved in the study.The modal age group was the third decade while the mean age was 30 years.More males were involved (M: F ratio of 4:1).

The most common aetiological agent #4 FERRUM PHOS 6X was road traffic accidents (30 / 50).The most common presenting symptom was CSF otorrhoea (56%, 28 / 50), while 10% had both rhinorrhoea and otorrhoea.The CSF leak was resolved within seven days in about 80% of cases.

Conservative care was enough in 98% of cases managed.No clinical meningitis was recorded.Conclusion: Traumatic CSF leak is seen more in active young group with CSF otorrhoea being the most common presentation in our clime.

Road traffic accident is the most common cause in our setting.Conservative care was enough in most cases.