Nasal intubation in the presence of frontobasal fractures: a retrospective study.

In most cases, surgical management of craniofacial fractures involves correction of occlusion. This requires nasal intubation. In the case of frontobasal fractures with simultaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistula, nasal intubation is thought to increase the risk of meningitis. An analysis of the records of 160 patients with frontobasal fractures and CSF fistulae showed that the route of intubation had no influence on the postoperative complication rate. Nasal intubation is therefore not contraindicated in frontobasal fractures with CSF fistulae.