Ear, Nose & Throat ENT Disorders CSF Rhinorrhea Symptoms and Treatment Nasal Sinus Surgery Complication By Kristin Hayes, RN facebook twitter Kristin Hayes, RN, is a registered nurse specializing in ear, nose, and throat disorders for both adults and children. Learn about our editorial process Kristin Hayes, RN Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by John Carew, MD on January 21, 2020 twitter linkedin John Carew, MD, is board-certified in otolaryngology and is an adjunct assistant professor at New York University Medical Center. Learn about our Medical Review Board John Carew, MD on January 21, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea is the medical term for a rare condition in which the fluid that normally cushions the brain and spinal cord, cerebrospinal fluid, runs from the nose. This happens when an abnormal path is inadvertently created between the subarachnoid space of the brain and the nasal sinus cavities, which can be caused by a variety of factors including surgery and trauma. George Clerk / Getty Images Symptoms Rhinorrhea (runny nose) that is clear and watery may be the first sign of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea. Other signs and symptoms may include: Headache Salty or metallic taste in the mouth Drainage increases while leaning forward with head down Lack of smell (anosmia) Nasal congestion It's important to realize that these symptoms also occur in many other, more common conditions and should be evaluated by an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, throat specialist or ENT) if they are not easily explained or do not clear up on their own in a week or so. If you have the symptoms listed above, you should not delay an evaluation since CSF rhinorrhea can lead to serious complications. Causes The abnormal space that allows CSF to leak can be caused by: A nasal sinus surgery complication Some birth defects An increase in intracranial pressure (ICP) (also called spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea) Trauma to the head and face that causes a naso-orbito-ethmoid fracture and damage to the cribriform plate (a part of the frontal lobe that forms the "roof" of the sinus) The exact incidence of CSF rhinorrhea is unknown but some studies have suggested that the rate of CSF rhinorrhea complications from sinus surgery is rare, only 0.5%. Thankfully, since the implementation of seat belt laws, the incidence of CSF rhinorrhea caused by trauma has also declined. Diagnosis If you are having the symptoms listed above, you should seek an evaluation by an otolaryngologist. If you had surgery, you should go to the surgeon that performed your procedure. However, if you have not had nasal sinus surgery, you should obtain any CT scans or other radiographic images of your sinuses that you may have had in the past and take them to an ENT specialist for evaluation. During this appointment, you may be asked to perform a Smell Identification Test to determine if there is olfactory (smell) dysfunction. This test may be done before any treatment in order to determine the baseline function. Depending on your situation, your doctor may also choose to perform an endoscopy. This involves using a tiny fiberoptic scope to visualize any abnormalities to the superior nasal cavity and cribriform plate. Other testing that may be ordered by your doctor includes: CT scan MRI Β-2 transferrin assay (laboratory test on nasal drainage) to confirm that the substance is in fact CSF Radioactive pledget scanning is an imaging test that can be rather time-consuming and involves inserting medical cotton in your nose and ears followed by a lumbar puncture Intrathecal fluorescein can be used to both identify CSF leaks and to surgically repair them Treatment If you have cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, it is important for you to receive appropriate treatment to prevent meningitis (a sometimes very serious infection) or pneumocephalus (air in the cranial cavity). Very small leaks may only require bed rest and medication to resolve. However, in most cases, to cure cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, surgery will be necessary. The type of surgery required will depend on the cause of your condition (surgery or trauma). The surgical success rate is good, however, complications may occur with any surgical procedure, especially those involving general anesthesia. You should discuss the risk versus benefits of having the surgery with your doctor and follow any instructions they give you regarding fasting the day before and day of your surgery and any instructions on how you should take care of yourself after the procedure. Understanding the Risks of Surgery A Word From Verywell While cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea is a rare condition, the complications (e.g. meningitis) can be serious and should not be taken lightly. Be sure to seek medical help as soon as you recognize the symptoms. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Cedars-Sinai. Cerebrospinal fluid leak. Cleveland Clinic. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak: diagnosis and tests. Cleveland Clinic. What is the treatment for a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak? Additional Reading Goldenberg D, Goldstein BJ. Handbook of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. 2011. New York City, NY:Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc. Kuzniar TJ, Gruber B, Mutlu GM. Cerebrospinal fluid leak and meningitis associated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure therapy. Chest. 2005 Sep 1;128(3):1882-4.