CLOSURE OF CLIVAL CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID FISTULA WITH BIOCOMPATIBLE OSTEOCONDUCTIVE POLYMER

Cerebrospinal fluid fistula into the upper airway often results in men ingitis. Closure of fistulas is usually effective using conventional s urgical techniques to reconstruct the defect. We report a case of cere brospinal fluid fistula into the sphenoid sinus and nasopharynx second ary to resection of a clivus chordoma that resisted conventional attem pts at closure, including a rectus abdominus free flap. Closure of the fistula was accomplished with the use of a novel alloplast, biocompat ible osteoconductive polymer. Follow-up for more than 1 year shows no evidence of rejection, infection, or recurrent cerebrospinal fluid rhi norrhea.