Isolated abducens nerve palsy due to cerebrospinal fluid leakage following lumbar discectomy: a rare clinical entity.
BACKGROUND
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage can cause abducens nerve palsy which is such a rare complication after spine surgery.


METHODS
A 48-year-old man was diagnosed with isolated abducens nerve palsy due to CSF leakage by inadvertent dural tearing after lumbar discectomy. We performed primary dural repair of CSF leakage and 1 week after, the diplopia and headache disappeared with complete resolution of CSF leakage. We will also review the clinical features and outcomes of three cases that have been reported in the literature.


CONCLUSIONS
This rare complication of spinal surgery helped us to discuss appropriate therapeutic strategies for the early surgical management of cranial nerve palsy following CSF leakage.
Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam-si, Korea.
Jin-deok
JD
Joo
Sang Hoon
SH
Yoon
Ki-Jeong
KJ
Kim
Tae-Ahn
TA
Jahng
Hyun-Jib
HJ
Kim
D020434:Abducens Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D065634:Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak; D002559:Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea / Q000209:etiology*; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged