Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak (CSF)
When your sinuses become inflamed or infected, they can cause unpleasant symptoms, such as a stuffy or runny nose, difficulty breathing, loss of smell and headaches.
These symptoms can be persistent and sinus issues are often recurrent, meaning they’re difficult to get rid of for good.
Fortunately, the sinus care experts (rhinologists) at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, specialize in treating chronic sinus infections and a wide range of other nagging sinus conditions, such as nasal polyps, deviated septum, rhinitis and cerebrospinal fluid leaks.
Not only is the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery ranked as one of the best ear, nose and throat (ENT) programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report, but we’re also a regional and national referral center for sinus treatment. Being a nationally recognized ENT program allows our sinus experts to collaborate with allergy and asthma care doctors on our own team if needed.
We know recurring sinus issues can impact your quality of life, decreasing energy while also leading to missed school or work. Let our sinus care team help you find the correct solution for your sinus condition.
What is sinus care?
The sinuses are a connected system of hollow spaces between the eyes, cheekbones and forehead. They serve an important purpose, because they produce mucus, which helps protect you against dust, allergens and other pollutants.
They clean the air we breathe in, so we need them to function properly.
When your sinuses become swollen or irritated from an infection or allergies, it can cause the following symptoms:
- Congestion and stuffy nose
- Runny nose
- Headaches
- Facial pain
- Loss of smell or taste
More than 30 million people are diagnosed with sinus infections (rhinosinusitis) every year, so our rhinologists treat the condition and other sinus issues frequently.
At the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, you’ll receive the best possible sinus care, no matter your diagnosis, and we’ll tailor a treatment plan to your specific needs. Available types of treatments include:
- Medications and other nonsurgical options
- Minimally invasive approaches
- In-office procedures
- Advanced surgical techniques
Sinus problems we treat at Ohio State
Here are some examples of the types of sinus problems we treat:
Why choose Ohio State for your sinus care?
Our sinus experts and nationally ranked ENT program provide a level of care that can be difficult to find elsewhere.
Here’s what makes Ohio State sinus care different:
- Fellowship-trained doctors – Many of our physicians have comprehensive training in subspecialties of the nose, sinuses and anterior skull base.
- Personalized treatment approach – We listen to your concerns and don’t default to surgery. We’ll work to find the approach that best suits your needs.
- Comprehensive ENT care – We’ll assess your sinus care issues, but if you require help managing other related conditions, such as asthma or allergy, we can refer easily to our colleagues in other specialty areas and work as a team to deliver care.
- Clinical trials – We often have access to the latest treatments available because we participate in national clinical trials aimed at treating sinus and nasal issues in new and inventive ways.
- Nasal research – Kai Zhao, PhD, is the region’s only PhD nasal researcher, who studies the relationship between nasal airflow, obstruction, loss of smell and sinus disease.