Recurrent meningitis continues to be a diagnostic challenge. It is studied in literature that 9% of acute bacterial meningitis is associated with recurrence. Aim of the study was

1. To assess the outcome of endoscopic repair of radiologically confirmed skull base defects.

2. To analyse the association between recurrent meningitis & radiologically confirmed skull base defects in those without CSF rhinorrhoea.

Ours is a combination of prospective & retrospective study on 60 patients who presented in the ENT department of a tertiary care hospital during the time period of August 2008 to June 2014, who presented with radiologically confirmed skull base defects, majority with recurrent meningitis with or without CSF rhinorrhoea. All cases were surgically repaired, the repair being done by a single surgeon. Of the 60 patients, aetiology was spontaneous in 32(53.3%) & traumatic in 28(46.7%). History of CSF rhinorrhoea was present in 45(75%) & history of recurrent meningitis in 41(68.3%).Most common site of leak was cribriform plate (33.3%). Post operative CSF rhinorrhoea & recurrent meningitis recurrences were present in 3 cases each respectively.

Of the 60 cases who underwent surgical repair there were only 3 recurrences. Success rate was 95%, clinically significant. Among the 41 patients who presented with recurrent meningitis among the 60 cases studied, 14 patients never gave a h/o CSF rhinoorhoea ie, 34.1%, the association being clinically & statistically significant (p value 0.03%)