Background: The precise treatment of iatrogenic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorhinorrhea has been poorly studied. The purpose of the study was to investigate the clinical manifestation, surgical results, and management of CSF leak.
Methods: Electronic medical record database of iatrogenic CSF leaks after erebellopontine angle(CPA) surgery from 2019 to 2022 was retrospectively analyzed. Three patients returned to the hospital with the complication of CSF leak. After failed attempts of conservative strategies or reverse surgical repair, adipose tissue was applied to the mastoid cracks repair.
Results: With the techniques described above, the CSF leaks were successfully settled. The identified patients were observed for at least 10 months. and there was no recurrence or other complications.
Conclusion: Conservative treatment and initial surgical methods for occult postoperative CSF leaks are prone to delay effective results, particularly in patients with well-evaporated temporal bone. This complication can be minimized with transmastoid closure utilizing autologous fat.