Surgical Management of Spontaneous Lateral Skull Base Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks: The Middle Cranial Fossa Approach

Abstract

This article provides the reader with a comprehensive overview of the middle cranial fossa approach for the surgical management of spontaneous lateral skull base cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks. The relationship of spontaneous CSF leaks being related to obesity has been established, and there has been an increase in their frequency of late secondary to the increasing prevalence of obesity in the United States. These leaks require surgical intervention due to their associated morbidity. The selection of a specific surgical approach to repair the skull base must be personalized for the individual patient and is based on the location and size of the leak and the number of defects.