Thecal repair in post-surgical pseudomeningocoele

Lumbar pseudomeningocele presenting as decerebrate rigidity-A rare case entity

INTRODUCTION

Spinal pseudomeningoceles are extradural collections of cerebrospinal fluid that result following a breach in the dural-arachnoid layer and is reported as one of the complications of lumbar disc surgery. Although they are often self subsiding and asymptomatic, they may occasionally cause low-back pain, headaches, and even nerve root entrapment. The purpose of this case report is to present an unreported presentation of pseudomeningocele PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 34 year obese male presented one month post lumbar discectomy with symptoms suggestive of raised intra cranial pressure presenting as repetitive decerebrate rigidity and altered sensorium lasting for few minutes when there is pressure on the pseudomeningocele sac and subsiding with change in position of the patient. He underwent surgical repair of the dural tear and was improved symptomatically with no recurrence of symptoms at five years follow up.

DISCUSSION

Radiological investigation helped in ruling out the other causes of decerebrate rigidity and the possible mechanism of development of such symptom in pseudomeningocele is discussed.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of pseudomeningooele presenting as decerebrate rigidity. Spinal pseudomeningocele can present in varied ways and earliest detection is the key to avoid such complications.

Unintended durotomy in lumbar degenerative spinal surgery: a 10-year systematic review of the literature

OBJECT

Unintended durotomy is a common occurrence during lumbar spinal surgery, particularly in surgery for degenerative spinal conditions, with the reported incidence rate ranging from 0.3% to 35%. The authors performed a systematic literature review on unintended lumbar spine durotomy, specifically aiming to identify the incidence of durotomy during spinal surgery for lumbar degenerative conditions. In addition, the authors analyzed the incidence of durotomy when minimally invasive surgical approaches were used as compared with that following a traditional midline open approach.

METHODS

A MEDLINE search using the term “lumbar durotomy” (under the 2015 medical subject heading [MeSH] “cerebrospinal fluid leak”) was conducted on May 13, 2015, for English-language medical literature published in the period from January 1, 2005, to May 13, 2015. The resulting papers were categorized into 3 groups: 1) those that evaluated unintended durotomy rates during open-approach lumbar spinal surgery, 2) those that evaluated unintended durotomy rates during minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS), and 3) those that evaluated durotomy rates in comparable cohorts undergoing MISS versus open-approach lumbar procedures for similar lumbar pathology.

RESULTS

The MEDLINE search yielded 116 results. A review of titles produced 22 potentially relevant studies that described open surgical procedures. After a thorough review of individual papers, 19 studies (comprising 15,965 patients) pertaining to durotomy rates during open-approach lumbar surgery were included for analysis. Using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM) ranking criteria, there were 7 Level 3 prospective studies and 12 Level 4 retrospective studies. In addition, the authors also included 6 studies (with a total of 1334 patients) that detailed rates of durotomy during minimally invasive surgery for lumbar degenerative disease. In the MISS analysis, there were 2 prospective and 4 retrospective studies. Finally, the authors included 5 studies (with a total of 1364 patients) that directly compared durotomy rates during open-approach versus minimally invasive procedures. Studies of open-approach surgery for lumbar degenerative disease reported a total of 1031 durotomies across all procedures, for an overall durotomy rate of 8.11% (range 2%–20%). Prospectively designed studies reported a higher rate of durotomy than retrospective studies (9.57% vs 4.32%, p = 0.05). Selected MISS studies reported a total of 93 durotomies for a combined durotomy rate of 6.78%. In studies of matched cohorts comparing open-approach surgery with MISS, the durotomy rates were 7.20% (34 durotomies) and 7.02% (68), respectively, which were not significantly different.

CONCLUSIONS

Spinal surgery for lumbar degenerative disease carries a significant rate of unintended durotomy, regardless of the surgical approach selected by the surgeon. Interpretation of unintended durotomy rates for lumbar surgery is limited by a lack of prospective and cohort-matched controlled studies.

Entrapped spinal nerve roots in a pseudomeningocoele as a complication of previous spinal surgery

Pseudomeningocele is a rare but well recognised complication of lumbar surgery (microdiscectomy and laminectomy). Most of the patients tolerate the presence of the cyst well, however some present with back pain and spinal claudication, presumably due to neural compression. We report a case who presented following three operations (microdiscectomy, laminectomy and excision of a pseudomeningocele) with symptoms of spinal claudication and bilateral radicular pain. The cause of her pain was evident only at operation and was due to herniation of nerve roots through the dural defect.

Collagen matrix (DuraGen) in dural repair: analysis of a new modified technique

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective review of 110 patients undergoing spinal dural repair and regeneration using an onlay, suture-free, 3-dimensional-collagen matrix graft (DuraGen) over an 8-year period (1995-2003).

OBJECTIVES

Technique appraisal of collagen matrix to repair spinal dura following incidental durotomy, spinal tumor surgery, and trauma.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Traditional methods of spinal dural repair following incidental durotomy involve tedious attempts at primary watertight suture with a 5% to 10% failure rate. Dural injury occurs after trauma, or dural excision may be required after tumor resection. Collagen matrix is a newer development in collagen sponge.

METHODS

The clinical and demographic data included diagnosis, type and site of surgery, infection risk, size of defect, use of lumbar drains, closed suction subfascial drains, and adverse events. The primary endpoints of graft failure were cerebrospinal fluid leak and pseudomeningocele formation. Neurosurgical wound infection rates were determined.

RESULTS

Collagen matrix was used (n = 110) in the following conditions: degenerative (69), pseudomeningocele formation repair (4), tumors (14), trauma (13), and congenital (5). There were 15 cervical (10 anterior), 21 thoracic (3 anterior), and 71 lumbar (all posterior) surgeries. Fibrin glue was used in 7.3%, subfascial drains in 82%, and lumbar drainage in 2.7%. Overall, cerebrospinal fluid leaks occurred in 2.7%. The 2 pseudomeningocele formations (3.2%) resolved at 3 months. There were 2 wound infections. In the subgroup with incidental durotomy (n = 69), failure of cerebrospinal fluid containment occurred in 4.3% [1 cerebrospinal fluid leak (1.4%), 2 pseudomeningocele formations (2.9%)].

CONCLUSIONS

Collagen matrix was successful in cerebrospinal fluid containment in > 95% of patients requiring dural repair following anterior and posterior spinal surgery. Subfascial drains were safe. Routine lumbar drains are not required but are recommended for repair of established pseudomeningocele formations.

Subarachnoid--pleural fistulae--management with a transdiaphragmatic pedicled greater omental flap: report of two cases

STUDY DESIGN

This report describes the treatment of chronic subarachnoid--pleural fistulae using a pedicled greater omentum transfer flap.

OBJECTIVE

To describe a new technique for the management of chronic subarachnoid--pleural fistulae resulting from thoracic dural tears.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Thoracic dural tears with leakage of cerebral spinal fluid into the pleural space can occur after thoracic spine surgery. The treatment of chronic subarachnoid--pleural fistulae using an omental flap, however, has not been reported.

METHODS

The clinical, radiographic, and surgical details of two cases are described.

RESULTS

Pedicled greater omentum transferred to the thoracic spine was an effective method in the treatment of intractable thoracic dural tears for two patients.

CONCLUSION

These cases demonstrate that pedicled greater omentum transferred to the thoracic spine can be a safe and effective technique for the management of intractable thoracic dural tears and their complications.