Abstract:ObjectiveTo analyze whether obesity is an independent risk factor for spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea(CSFR), and to provide evidence for preventing spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea and reducing postoperative recurrence rate.MethodsA total of 128 CSFR cases were collected, including 57 males and 71 females. Their age ranged from 19 to 72 years with an average age of (40.0±3.9) years. All patients underwent CSFR repairment for middle turbinate or nasal septum mucosa supplemented with gelatin sponge by nasal endoscopy. Height and weight were routinely measured at the time of admission, and body mass index(BMI) was calculated based on height and weight. According to the cause of CSFR, 128 patients were divided into traumatic group, iatrogenic group, tumor group and spontaneous group.ResultsThe average BMI of the spontaneous group was 33.4 kg/m2, which was significantly higher than that of the other three groups(the average BMI of the traumatic group was 23.9 kg/m2,P=0.002; the average BMI of iatrogenic group was 23.5 kg/m2,P=0.003; the average BMI of the oncology group was 21.3 kg/m2,P=0.000). However, there was no significant difference (all P>0.05) in BMI among the three groups(traumatic group, iatrogenic group and tumor group). All patients had no postoperative complications of nose, eye and skull base after 1 year of postoperative followup. And 5 patients had recurrence after operation :2 patients had gradually increased weight after operation and a secondary operation repair, who were informed the patient to lose weight and no recurrence;1 patient had lost weight on his own since the first recurrence without a secondary surgical treatment and no recurrence during a followup; 2 patients had no significant weight gain and no recurrence by secondary repairment.ConclusionsAccording to the results of this study, we thought that obesity was only an independent risk factor for spontaneous CSFR, and not associated with CSFR of other causes. Weight control is an important measure to prevent spontaneous CSFR, which will reduce the recurrent rate of postoperative spontaneous CSFR.