What are the risks of an operation on the cribriform plate ethmoid region ?

CSF Leak, Meningitis: This is a delicate area and has connections between the nose and the brain meninges which serve as a barrier to outside infections( which can reach there via your nose). Any operation in this area would breaches this barrier. This can sometimes lead to a leak of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) which can be a conduit for infection of the fluid and meninges(meningitis). But neurosurgeons are careful.