Cerebrospinal Otorrhea

Abstract

Cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea is an uncommon finding of the clinician. The escape of cerebrospinal fluid from the ear signifies a defect of the temporal bone and of the adjacent dura.^17,29Cases of head injury in which a clear watery fluid escaped from the ear were reported as early as 1727 by Stalparlius Vander Weil, many years before the discovery of cerebrospinal fluid.²²This paper includes a brief review of the world literature, a discussion of the etiology, complications, and surgical repair, and presentation of a case of cerebrospinal otorrhea. <h3>Cause</h3> Fracture of the temporal bone constitutes the most common cause of cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea; these fractures can be longitudinal, transverse, or a combination of both and either unilateral or bilateral.¹²Longitudinal fractures, parallel to the long axis of the petrous pyramid, are most common and usually involve the floor of the middle cranial fossa, sparing the capsule