Journal of neurological surgery reports
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Background Oculorrhea, or cerebrospinal fluid leakage developing from a cranio-orbital fistula, is a rare development following traumatic injury. Case Report A 22-year-old man involved in a motor vehicle accident developed a blowout fracture of the left orbital roof penetrating the frontal lobe, inducing oculorrhea. He underwent a supraorbital craniotomy for removal of the bony fragment and skull base reconstruction using a pericranial flap. ⋯ Thirteen patients underwent initial surgical intervention, and three additional patients required operative intervention following failed conservative treatment. Conclusion Although oculorrhea rarely develops following severe orbital trauma, suspicion should nevertheless be maintained to facilitate more prompt diagnosis and management. The decision for conservative versus surgical management often depends on the severity of the fracture and dural injury.
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Background Bioabsorbable plates are frequently utilized in the repair of skull base defects following transsphenoidal operations. Traumatic intracranial pseudoaneurysms are a rare complication of transsphenoidal surgery. To date, iatrogenic carotid pseudoaneurysm associated with the use of an absorbable plate has been reported once. ⋯ Conclusion Delayed erosion of the carotid artery wall caused by a plate used to reconstruct the sellar floor may manifest with epistaxis or embolic stroke. The authors' preference is to avoid insertion of a rigid plate for sellar floor reconstruction in the absence of intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks, unless it is required to buttress a large skull base defect. Short-segment embolization with stent coiling is the preferred treatment option for carotid pseudoaneurysms following transsphenoidal operations.