OBJECTIVETo explore the surgical approaches, methods and techniques of repair of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea via frontal sinus under transnasal endoscopy.

METHODSCerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, located at the posterior wall of the frontal sinus (n = 9) and posterior lateral wall of the frontal recess (n = 4) had been repaired surgically. A transnasal endoscopic approach was chosen in 12 patients and combined approach was used in 1 patient during the first procedure. Three patients needed the second surgery. Among them, one patient needed to repair CSF rhinorrhea, 1 patient needed to treat intracranial abscess of frontal lobe via combined approach and another one was treated because of the complication of frontal cyst.

RESULTSTwelve patients were successfully repaired in the first surgery. Only 1 patient needed second surgery. Two patients occurred complications. One was intracranial infection after surgery, external drainage and packing in the frontal sinus was used. Another was obstructive cyst in frontal sinus, transnasal endoscopic frontal sinusotomy was performed.

CONCLUSIONSCSF rhinorrhea which located at the posterior wall of the frontal sinus can be successfully repaired via transnasal endoscopic approach if the leak was visible under endoscopy. The size of the frontal ostium and leak vantage should be considered to prevent the drainage of the frontal sinus which would result in obstructive cyst in frontal sinus, frontal sinusitis and intracranial infection. Combined approach was suggested to the patients that leakage could not be seen in frontal sinus or frontal ostium was difficult to enlarge.