Design of an Endonasal Graft Placement Tool for Repair of Skull Base Defects

Endonasal skull base surgery (see Fig. 1) has proven to be a safe, effective, and significantly less invasive surgical approach when compared to open, highly invasive techniques [1]. Nevertheless, one initial difficulty with this minimally invasive approach has been postoperative leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) [2]. While the incidence of postoperative CSF leaks are low (<1%), the potential consequences are severe and include meningitis, brain abscess, neurologic deficits, brain hemorrhage, and death [1].