Abstract:Objective To explore the clinical effect of free middle turbinate mucosa (FMT), fascia lata, and pedicled nasal septum flap (hadad-bassagasteguy flap, HBF) for the management of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea after endoscopic resection of nasal-skull base tumors.Methods Clinical data of 65 patients who underwent reconstruction of skull base defect to manage CSF rhinorrhea after endoscopic resection of nasal-skull base tumors were analyzed retrospectively. The repair material was determined by the size and location of the defect. FMT was selected for the defect less than 1.5cm (n=24), HBF was preferred for the defect greater than or equal to 1.5cm (n=16), but when HBF was not available or not applicable (the defect was located on the posterior wall of the frontal sinus), the fascia lata was chosen (n=25). The repair effect of all the 65 patients was summarized and that between the fascia lata and HBF was compared.Results The overall one-time repair success rate was 93.8%, and those of FMT, fascia lata and HBF were 91.7%, 96.0% and 93.8%, respectively. During the follow-up period, the case numbers with postoperative CSF leakage were 2 in 24 repaired with FMT, 1 in 25 repaired with fascia lata, and 1 in 16 repaired with HBF. The postoperative complications in the fascia lata group and HBF group included intracranial infection (2 vs 1), lung infection (0 vs 2), and epistaxis (2 vs 2), and their differences were statistically insignificant.Conclusions With satisfactory repair effect, HBF, fascia lata and FMT are suitable for transnasal endoscopic reconstruction of skull base defect to manage CSF rhinorrhea. FMT is a reliable repair material for small (<1.5 cm) defects. For large defects (≥ 1.5 cm), either HBF or fascia lata can be used with similar repair effect. It is feasible to choose fascia lata when HBF is not available or not applicable.