Recurrent subdural hematoma caused by cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Case report

Delayed recurrence of spontaneous intracranial hypotension syndrome mimicking a Chiari I malformation: Case report with a review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Cerebellar tonsils descent seen on brain MRI is, along with other findings, a recognized radiological sign of possible spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). The short-term outcome of SIH is usually favorable with symptoms improvement and reversibility of the low-lying tonsils. Nevertheless, data on the long-term outcome are lacking or inconsistent.

CASE REPORT

A 32-year-old woman presented to her general practitioner with a six months history of non-specific headaches. An MRI brain with gadolinium showed a 12mm tonsillar descent with no other remarkable findings. Headaches were initially managed conservatively as migraines. Following the onset of progressive upper back and shoulder pain at rest, nausea, photophobia and fogging in her vision, the patient was referred to our Department with a suspicion of symptomatic Chiari I malformation. After an in-depth anamnesis, it emerged a previous history of SIH, 14 years earlier, successfully treated conservatively in another center. A whole spine MRI confirmed the suspicion of recurrent SIH showing an anterior cervico-thoracic epidural fluid collection. The patient underwent an epidural blood patch with complete resolution of the symptoms and radiological signs.

DISCUSSION

To our knowledge, this case is the first report of delayed recurrence of a SIH successfully treated conservatively over 10 years earlier. The etiopathogenesis and management of this rarity with literature review is discussed.

CONCLUSION

An isolated cerebellar tonsil descent with no other remarkable findings on brain MRI and a previous history of SIH should always alert the clinician of a possible late recurrence of a CSF leak and avoid unnecessary Chiari I malformation surgical procedures.

Microsurgical anatomy and treatment of dural defects in spontaneous spinal cerebrospinal fluid leaks

OBJECTIVE

Spontaneous spinal CSF leaks are caused by abnormalities of the spinal dura mater. Although most cases are treated conservatively or with an epidural blood patch, some intractable cases require neurosurgical treatment. However, previous reports are limited to a small number of cases. Preoperative detection and localization of spinal dural defects are difficult, and surgical repair of these defects is technically challenging. The authors present the anatomical characteristics of dural defects and surgical techniques in treating spontaneous CSF leaks.

METHODS

Among the consecutive patients who were diagnosed with spontaneous CSF leaks at the authors' institution between 2010 and 2020, those who required neurosurgical treatment were included in the study. All patients' clinical information, radiological studies, surgical notes, and outcomes were reviewed retrospectively. Outcomes of two different procedures in repairing dural defects were compared.

RESULTS

Among 77 patients diagnosed with spontaneous CSF leaks, 21 patients (15 men; mean age 57 years) underwent neurosurgery. Dural defects were detected by FIESTA MRI in 7 patients, by CT myelography in 12, by digital subtraction myelography in 1, and by dynamic CT myelography in 1. The spinal levels of the defects were localized at the cervicothoracic junction in 16 patients (76%) and thoracolumbar junction in 4 (19%). Intraoperative findings revealed that the dural defects were small, circumscribed longitudinal slits located at the ventral aspect of the dura mater. The median dural defect size was 5 × 2 mm. The presence of dural defects at the thoracolumbar junction was associated with manifestation of an altered mental status, which was an unusual manifestation of CSF leaks (p = 0.003). Eight patients were treated via the posterior transdural approach with watertight primary sutures of the ventral defects, and 13 were treated with muscle or fat grafting. Regardless of the two different procedures, postoperative MRI showed either complete disappearance or significant reduction of the extradural CSF collection. No patient experienced postoperative neurological deficits. Clinical symptoms improved or stabilized in 20 patients with a median follow-up of 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Dural defects in spontaneous CSF leaks were small, circumscribed longitudinal slits located ventral to the spinal cord at either the cervicothoracic or thoracolumbar junction. Muscle/fat grafting may be an alternative treatment to watertight primary sutures of ventral dural defects with a good outcome.

Low-pressure/spinal fluid leak headache

Low cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure results in neurologic deficits, of which the most common manifestation is headache. Typically, the headache is postural - and specifically, orthostatic - in presentation. There are three hypotheses to explain the occurrence of headache associated with low CSF fluid. The first is traction on pain-sensitive intracranial and meningeal structures; the second is CSF hypovolemia; and the third is spinal loss of CSF resulting in increased compliance at the caudal end of the CSF space. Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH), once believed to be rare, is now more commonly recognized. It is typically associated with orthostatic headache (although initially it may not be) and one or more other symptoms such as alterations in hearing, nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, diplopia, and visual field cuts. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain with gadolinium is the first study of choice, which typically reveals diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement and, frequently, cerebellar tonsillar descent and posterior fossa crowding. Epidural blood patch (EBP) is the treatment of choice. Surgery and epidural fibrin glue injection are options for those who fail conservative therapy and/or EBP.

Intracranial hypotension with a sixth cranial nerve palsy subsequent to massive thoracic CSF hygroma: a rare complication of thoracic disc excision

BACKGROUND

Thoracic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) hygroma is a rare and potentially devastating complication of the anterior thoracic approach to the spine. We present two cases in which this complication resulted in acute cranial nerve palsy and discuss the pathoanatomy and management options in this scenario.

CASE REPORTS

Two male patients presented to our department with neurological deterioration due to a giant herniated thoracic disc. The extruded disc fragment was noted pre-operatively to be calcified in both patients. A durotomy was performed at primary disc prolapse resection in the first patient, whereas an incidental durotomy during the procedure caused complication in the second patient. These were repaired primarily or sealed with Tachosil(®). Both patients re-presented with acute diplopia. Imaging of both patients confirmed a massive thoracic cerebrospinal fluid hygroma and evidence of intracranial changes in keeping with intracranial hypotension, but no obvious brain stem shift. The hemithorax was re-explored and the dural repair was revised. The first patient made a full recovery within 3 months. The second patient was managed conservatively and took 5 months for improvement in his ophthalmic symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of CSF leakage post-dural repair into the thoracic cavity is raised due to local factors related to the chest cavity. Dural repairs can fail in the presence of an acute increase in CSF pressure, for example whilst sneezing. Intracranial hypotension can result in subsequent hygroma and possibly haematoma formation. The resultant cranial nerve palsy may be managed expectantly except in the setting of symptomatic subdural haematoma or compressive pneumocephaly.

Myelography in the Age of MRI: Why We Do It, and How We Do It

Myelography is a nearly ninety-year-old method that has undergone a steady development from the introduction of water-soluble contrast agents to CT myelography. Since the introduction of magnetic resonance imaging into clinical routine in the mid-1980s, the role of myelography seemed to be constantly less important in spinal diagnostics, but it remains a method that is probably even superior to MRI for special clinical issues. This paper briefly summarizes the historical development of myelography, describes the technique, and discusses current indications like the detection of CSF leaks or cervical root avulsion.

Treatment of a persistent iatrogenic cerebrospinal fluid-pleural fistula with a cadaveric dural-pleural graft

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-pleural fistula is a unique condition with which all spine surgeons need to be familiar, particularly those who use anterolateral approaches to the thoracic region. When direct suturing of the dural defect is not possible, techniques for indirect repair must be considered.

PURPOSE

To report a novel technique for repair of a thoracic CSF-pleural fistula with a cadaveric dural-pleural graft after failure of initial treatment with Duragen (Integra, Plainsboro, NJ) and fibrin glue.

STUDY DESIGN/SETTING

Case report/University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center.

METHODS

The case of a 65-year-old female is presented.

RESULTS

The patient represented 5 weeks after the initial operation (left-sided thoracotomy, partial T10-T11 corpectomy and removal of an intradural calcified disc) with dyspnea and severe positional headaches. Imaging of the brain revealed a subdural hematoma and magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic region demonstrated a pseudomeningocele surrounding the postsurgical bed. She underwent a revision thoracotomy and CSF-pleural fistula repair. We addressed the dural opening indirectly by suturing a piece of cadaveric dural allograft to the thickened pleura, after Duragen and fibrin glue were placed over the dural defect. A lumbar drain and a chest tube were also placed. At 12 weeks post-op, the subdural hematoma had completely resolved and her chest X-rays demonstrated a significant decrease in the CSF-pleural collection.

CONCLUSION

Anterolateral thoracic disc surgery poses a great challenge to the spine surgeon but can provide the most direct way of decompressing the spinal cord as a result of ventral pathology. Some of the most difficult aspects of dealing with a CSF leak in this area relates to 1) the relative complexity of suturing the dura directly as it is at a considerable distance from the operating surgeon; 2) the manner in which the contralateral dura slopes away and is hidden from view; and 3) the relatively negative intrathoracic pressure, which encourages the persistent flow of CSF from the intradural to the pleural cavity. We speculate that with open thoracic surgery and the creation of a large potential space with an open dural defect, this technique provided an additional barrier against the formation of a CSF-pleural fistula. Using this technique, we intentionally create a pseudomeningocele into the corpectomy defect that is contained within the confines of our dural-pleural graft.

Occult cervical (C1-2) dural tear causing bilateral recurrent subdural hematomas and repaired with cervical epidural blood patch

The authors report the case of a 56-year-old previously healthy man who presented with a 4-month history of postural headache accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The results of initial imaging studies of the brain were normal. Repeated MR imaging demonstrated bilateral subdural hematomas which were drained and reaccumulated over a period of time. Spinal myelography revealed a cerebrospinal fluid leak at the C1-2 level. A cervical epidural blood patch, with repeated injections of 10 ml autologous blood at the site of the leak, dramatically improved the headache within 24 hours and eliminated the recurrent subdural hematomas. The results of follow-up computed tomography of the brain at 1, 4, 8, and 16 weeks were normal, and at 1-year follow-up the patient was completely free of symptoms and working.

Spontaneous subdural fluid collections following transection of a fatty filum terminale: case report and review of the literature

We present the case of a 6-year-old girl who developed bilateral subdural fluid collections following transection of her fatty filum terminale. The patient presented to our emergency department 3 weeks subsequent to surgery, reporting symptoms of headache, nausea, and vomiting. The presence of bilateral subdural fluid collections was confirmed by head computerized tomography. Subdural fluid collections and hematomas have been associated with intracranial hypotension and excessive cerebrospinal fluid leakage; however, there are relatively few cases of subdural fluid collections/hematomas following spine surgery reported in the literature. To our knowledge, this is a unique description of development and resolution of subdural fluid collections following surgical transection of a fatty filum terminale.