A man from Syria suffered for years with disconcerting symptoms that set in after being involved in a car accident: chronic rhinorrhea, headaches, and seizures. He did his best to take care of it thinking it was just a common cold, but he was shocked to discover that he was leaking the cerebrospinal fluid, which protects the brain and spine.

How Did His Condition Develop? 

The patient's symptoms started six years ago after he suffered a head injury in a car crash. Despite his ongoing health problems, he initially refused treatment for his injuries. His condition took a turn for the worse when he developed meningoencephalitis two months prior to seeking medical help for his nasal leakage.

What Did Doctors Discover? 

On being brought back to the hospital, doctors ran an MRI scan, which confirmed a skull fracture. He had a rare condition called traumatic encephalocele. Traumatic encephalocele is when, because of trauma, the brain tissue bulges out through an opening in the skull into spaces like the nasal cavity. In the scan, his right side was hugely expanded on account of the tissue pressing through the fracture.

Cerebrospinal Fluid
Image Source: Wikipedia

Surgery and Recovery

The patient was referred to surgery owing to the seriousness of the injuries, but he refused, leaving the surgeon with no option other than to wait for him until after two months; at this juncture, he agreed to undergo surgery. A neurosurgeon skillfully repaired the fractured skull, repositioned the displaced brain tissue and meninges, and used medical-grade cement and glue to reconstruct the damaged area.

Fortunately, the surgery was successful, and the man was discharged after just two days, which brings a good storyline on that turn of events in his health. His case really puts importance on having some treatments regarding head injuries and how their relations add to complexities when having these kinds of conditions.

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