Repair of encephalocele and cerebrospinal fluid leak with the use of bone morphogenetic protein: A case report

BACKGROUND: Encephaloceles are rare phenomena which occur when brain parenchyma herniates through a skull defect which, if left untreated, may lead to significant issues such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistulas, meningitis, and intractable seizures. Due to the rarity and variety in size and location of encephaloceles, no standard technique has been established for the resultant defect. Herein, we demonstrate the safe and effective use of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) in the repair of CSF leak caused by encephalocele. CASE DESCRIPTION: A retrospective chart review was conducted on a 50-year-old female who presented with sudden onset spontaneous right nostril CSF leak due to the right lateral sphenoid sinus recess encephalocele, for which she underwent surgical repair. After resecting the encephalocele, cadaver crushed bone was used to fill the skull base defect. Following, an absorbable sponge from the extra-small BMP kit was cut in half and soaked with recombinant human BMP-2 (rhBMP-2) before being laid over the bony defect. On postoperative clinic visits at 2 weeks and at 3 months, the patient demonstrated good recovery without evidence of recurrent CSF leak. On follow-up computed tomography imaging at 9 months’ postsurgery, there was no evidence of recurrent CSF leak or encephalocele, infection, ectopic bone formation, excessive inflammation, or neoplasm. CONCLUSION: In this case, we demonstrate the successful use of BMP for the repair of CSF leak due to encephalocele. It is our extrapolation that the pro-inflammatory properties of rhBMP-2 lead to the prevention of recurrent CSF leak.