TRANSNASAL ENDOSCOPIC REPAIR OF CRANIONASAL FISTULAS - A REFINED TECHNIQUE WITH LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP

Although the management of cranionasal fistulae has historically plagu ed otolaryngologists, recent reports of endoscopic techniques for repa ir of these lesions offer promising results. We present our series of 42 patients whose cranionasal fistulae were managed endoscopically bet ween December 1989 and August 1995. Follow-up ranged from 5 to 68 mont hs, thereby including long-term results from our previously reported s eries of 29 cases. Resolution of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea was ac hieved in 35 (83.3%) of 42 patients with one endoscopic procedure, and 3 patients had successful closure at a second surgery. AU five cephal oceles were successfully treated with one procedure. We have refined o ur technique to include specific indications for the use of free graft s depending on the location and size of the cranionasal fistula.