Dural tear and resultant cerebrospinal fluid leaks after cervical spinal trauma.
OBJECTIVE
Traumatic cervical spinal cord injuries (SCIs) frequently develop dural tears and resultant cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks. They are not usually identified with advanced imaging, and there are no reports on managing CSF leaks after cervical trauma. Hence, the authors evaluated the incidence of CSF leaks after cervical SCIs and described how to predict and manage CSF leaks.


METHODS
An observational retrospective study was done confirming intraoperative CSF leaks among 53 patients with anterior cervical surgery after cervical spine trauma between 2004 and 2011.


RESULTS
Seven patients (13.2%) had dural tears and resultant CSF leaks intraoperatively (M:F ratio of 6:1; mean age, 44.7 years). An initial poor American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale was significantly associated with CSF leaks (p = 0.009). From magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), disruption of the ligamentum flavum was correlated with CSF leaks (p = 0.02). Intraoperative application of fibrin glue on the operated site, postoperative management through the early removal of the wound drain within the first 24 h and early rehabilitation were performed in patients with CSF leaks without perioperative insertion of a lumbar drain. During the follow-up period, none of the patients developed CSF-leak-related complications.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of CSF leaks after traumatic cervical SCI is relatively higher than that of degenerative cervical spinal surgery. An initial poor neurological status and disruption of the ligamentum flavum on the MRI in patients were predictable factors of dural tears and CSF leaks.
Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 28 Yeongun-Dong, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, 110-744, Korea.
Soo Eon
SE
Lee
Chun Kee
CK
Chung
Tae-Ahn
TA
Jahng
Chi Heon
CH
Kim
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D065634:Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult