Liquorea

Liquorea is the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid due to communication between the subarachnoid and extracranial spaces.

It is most often caused by a traumatic mechanism.

• In the case of a fracture in the area of the front cranial fossa, communication with the nasal cavity and leakage of liquor from the nose may occur - the so-called "rhinorrhea".
• With fractures of the petrous bone, cerebrospinal fluid can leak from the ear - the so-called "otorrhea".
• In case of a massive leakage of cerebrospinal fluid, posttraumatic cerebrospinal fluid hypotension' occurs, which clinically manifests almost the same as intracranial hypertension syndrome.
• In the initial phase it is often covered by bleedingm from the nose or ears. Later, it has the character of a watery secretion and is often mistaken for a cold.
• Draining is accentuated when standing and leaning forward.
• The risk is the development of bacterial meningitis.

Diagnosis

• Anamnesis:
  • head injury,
  • splanchnocranial surgery,
  • watery discharge that depends on the position of the head,
  • sometimes olfactory disturbances.
• Identification of liquoru (biochemically – sugar level, ß2-transferrin,...).
• Neuroradiological evidence of communication - isotopic cisternography or CT cisternography.

Therapy

Conservative - spontaneous healing usually occurs only with bed rest. If it persists for more than 2 weeks, surgical treatment is chosen.

Complications

• Risk of intracranial infection.

Links

related articles

• Craniocerebral trauma
• Intracranial hypertension
• Hydrocephalus
• Cerebrospinal fluid
• Circulation of cerebrospinal fluid

Used Literature

Done by: Eisa Jbara