Neurosurgical treatment of traumatic frontobasal CSF fistulae in 300 patients (1967-1989).

300 patients with traumatic fronto-basal CSF fistulae were treated neurosurgically from 1967 to 1989, i.e. via a transcranial approach. An additional intracranial space occupying lesion, a direct open endocranium and/or a large basal brain hernia was found in 68%. The following aspects were discussed: progress in establishing the exact anatomical diagnosis, especially neuroradiological advances; questions of the indication for surgery; the problem of the optimal surgical approach. Both the cranial and the rhinological approach have advantages and disadvantages. Their indications only partly coincide, so that the choice of method depends especially on the individual pathology. Advances were made in recent years in terms of neurosurgery as well as of rhinology. The neurosurgical results could be improved, and postoperative complications have become rare after the cranial approach. Besides the optimal choice of the time of operation, the following factors are important: an adequate intracranial debridement; a microsurgical technique entailing as little damage to surrounding tissue as possible and various specially mentioned brain-protective measures. An optimal collaboration between the specialties involved is the basis for further progress. More attention must be paid to endocrinological problems in the future.