Objective: To describe rates of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea after reconstruction of the IAC with calcium phosphate bone cement during retrosigmoid resections of vestibular schwannomas.
Methods: A retrospective chart review of 177 patients who underwent retrosigmoid craniotomy and opening of the internal auditory canal for resection of a vestibular schwannoma between January 2016 and September 2019 at a tertiary referral center. Patients with other cerebellopontine angle tumor histology, neurofibromatosis type II, or those undergoing revision surgeries were excluded.
Results: Out of 177 patients, six patients (3.4%) developed postoperative rhinorrhea. Four patients (2.3%) were taken back to the OR for mastoidectomy and repair of CSF leak. Three of these patients were noted to have a CSF leak from the peri-labyrinthine air cells, and one was found to have a leak from the craniotomy site communicating with the mastoid air cells. Two patients were conservatively managed with diuretics and had resolution of their CSF leak. Six patients (3.4%) were readmitted for postoperative infection. Two patients were diagnosed with meningitis (1.1%), one aseptic and one H. Influenza, and three patients developed surgical site infections (1.6%). One patient was empirically treated with antibiotics and ultimately had a negative CSF culture.
Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that the use of calcium phosphate bone cement for IAC closure in retrosigmoid resection of vestibular schwannomas is a safe and effective technique with low rates of postoperative CSF rhinorrhea.
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