OBJECTIVEThe objective of this study is to review cerebrospinal fluid leakage (CSFL) after thoracic decompression and describe its regular and special features.

DATA SOURCESLiterature cited in this review was retrieved from PubMed and Medline and was primarily published during the last 10 years. "Cerebrospinal fluid", "leakage", "dural tears", and "thoracic decompression" were the indexed terms. Relevant citations in the retrieved articles were also screened to include more data.

STUDY SELECTIONAll retrieved literature was scrutinized, and four categories were recorded: incidence and risk factors, complications, treatment modalities, and prognosis.

RESULTSCSFL is much more frequent after thoracic decompression than after cervical and lumbar spinal surgeries. Its occurrence is related to many clinical factors, especially the presence of ossified ligaments and the adhesion of the dural sac. While its impact on the late neurological recovery is currently controversial, CSFL increases the risk of other perioperative complications, such as low intracranial pressure symptoms, infection, and vascular events. The combined use of primary repairs during the operation and conservative treatment postoperatively is generally effective for most CSFL cases, whereas lumbar drains and reoperations should be implemented as rescue options for refractory cases only.

CONCLUSIONSCSFL after thoracic decompression has not been specifically investigated, so the present study provides a systematic and comprehensive review of the issue. CSFL is a multi-factor-related complication, and pathological factors play a decisive role. The importance of CSFL is in its impact on the increased risk of other complications during the postoperative period. Methods to prevent these complications are in need. In addition, though the required treatment resources are not special for CSFL after thoracic decompression, most CSFL cases are conservatively curable, and surgeons should be aware of it.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak ; diagnosis ; Decompression, Surgical ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Incidence ; Postoperative Complications

PURPOSEUp to date, some approaches retarding the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) could be regarded as direct applications of the fluid mechanics (Poiseuille's law). However, there is a lack of the research on the efficacy of subfascial drainage for management of CSF leak after spine surgery based on the law. This is a prospective and comparative study on subfascial drainage for CSF.

METHODSEvery four months in the three years from January 2010 to December 2012, the patients were enrolled respectively in Group A, Group B and Group C, in which, the drainage tube was discontinued within postoperative 3-4 days, 5-6 days, 7-10 days. Results and complications of postoperative CSF leak were investigated, and mean wound healing time (MWHT) of the three groups was compared.

RESULTSA total of 108 cases (Group A/B/C:35/32/41) of CSF leak following posterior spine surgery were admitted to Tianjin Union Medicine Center, and 92 cases have been followed up for more than 1 year (follow-up rate of 85.2%). Preoperative demographics were similar among the 3 groups. In Group A, 7 patients developed CSF leak through the wound (CSFLW), of which 5 cases had to undergo reoperation. One case in Group A was confirmed to have pseudomeningocele at the 1st month after surgery. The MWHT was (16.6±3.6) days. In Group B, 3 patients developed CSFLWand cured by reoperation, in which 1 case of superficial infection recovered well after reoperation. MWHT was (11.4±2.2) days. In Group C, CSFLWwas not found and MWHT was (10.1±2.9) days. The differences of MWHT among Groups A, B and C were statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONPostoperative subfascial drainage, which is used to decrease the subfascial space pressure (P₂), would help wound healing. When it is placed for more than 7 days, the wound resistance (Rw) would be strong enough to withstand the subarachnoid pressure (P₁). Meanwhile, the power trans- duction in a sequence of Rw > P₂ > P₁ will indirectly retard CSF leak at the durotomy site and accordingly facilitate the healing of damaged spinal dura mater.

Adult ; Aged ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak ; therapy ; Drainage ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; therapy ; Prospective Studies ; Spine ; surgery

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the treatment strategy for subcutaneous fistula secondary to cerebrospinal fluid leakage (CSFL) in thoracic spinal stenosis (TSS) cases. METHODS: In the study, 186 CSFL cases diagnosed with TSS and operated in general spine group of Department of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital from January 2005 to December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed, of which eleven had subcutaneous fistula secondary to CSFL and were regularly followed up. Treatment strategy for subcutaneous fistula depended on the severity of CSFL and the recovery rate of thoracic myelopathy. Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score was utilized to evaluate the neurologic status of these patients preoperatively and postoperatively. Statistical analysis was conducted between preoperative and postoperative JOA scores. RESULTS: All of the 11 patients were regularly followed up for at least 24 months. Six of them had ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) combined with ossification of ligamentum flavum (OLF), all of them undertook "cave-in" 360° circumferential decompression of the spinal cord with instrumentation. Five cases had OLF only, and received En bloc resection of lamina and OLF and fixation. The follow-up period ranged from 30 months to 131 months, and averaged at (85±34) months. Preoperative symptoms lasted from 3 months to 8 years, and the median was 18 months. Drainages were placed for 2-6 days, and averaged at (4.2±1.1) days. Ten cases appeared with fever during the perioperative period, the maximum body temperature was (37.3-39.7) °C. Prolonged antibiotics were applied in two cases with high fever. Ten cases were treated with conservative methods, CSFL were completely absorbed during the follow-up time, of which compressive dressing was utilized in 8 cases, and punctures combined with compressive dressing were used in 2 cases. For only 1 case, conservative therapy failed and reoperation was required because of neurological deterioration arising from CSF pseudocyst. For these 11 cases, preoperative JOA score arose from (3.8±1.6) preoperatively to (8.9±1.2) at the end of the final follow-up, the recovery rate was 70.8%. No infection of wound or central nerve system were noticed, and neither were unhealing wound. CONCLUSION Most TSS cases with subcutaneous fistula secondary to CSFL could be cured by conservative methods, and reoperation is required only if myelopathy caused by cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst is identified.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak/complications* ; Decompression, Surgical ; Fistula/etiology* ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; Spinal Stenosis/complications* ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; Treatment Outcome

Subfrontal schwannomas are rarely reported. They are usually found only in the subfrontal area, but some extend to the nasal cavity. In these cases, prevention of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage through thinned or eroded anterior skull base is important. A 51-year-old female with anosmia and mild nausea was diagnosed as subfrontal extraaxial mass with nasal cavity extension. This mass was initially thought to be an olfactory groove meningioma. We performed a bifrontal craniotomy for surgical excision. We did not totally remove the tumor, as we wanted to prevent a skull base defect. The histopathological diagnosis was a schwannoma. There was no postoperative complication such as CSF leakage. The residual tumor was treated with gamma knife radiosurgery. The nasal cavity mass has not grown as of five years after radiosurgery.
Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak ; Craniotomy ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Meningioma ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Cavity* ; Nausea ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Neurilemmoma* ; Olfaction Disorders ; Olfactory Nerve ; Postoperative Complications ; Radiosurgery* ; Skull Base

OBJECTIVETo explore the effectiveness of absorbable hemostatic fluid gelatin in preventing postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage.

METHODSThe clinical data of 17 patients with dura mater tear were retrospectively analyzed from March to September in 2003. There were 16 males and 1 female, aged from 16 to 67 years old with an average of (39.6 ± 15.4) years. The injury site was at cervical vertebrae in 1 case, thoracic vertebrae in 9 cases, thoracolumbar junction in 4 cases, lumbar vertebrae in 3 cases. There were burst fracture in 4 cases and fracture-dislocation in 13 cases. According to ASIA grade, 12 cases were grade A, 2 cases were grade B, 2 cases were grade D, 1 case were grade E. Two cases caused by traffic accident, 10 by high falling, 4 by heavy parts crash, 1 by stairs fell during the earthquake. Absorbable hemostatic fluid gelatins were used to plug the dura mater tear,in order to prevent postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Postoperative drainage were recorded every day.

RESULTSOf 17 patients, 15 cases did not develop with cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Two cases develop with cerebrospinal fluid leakage after operation and their drainage were removed at 6 to 7 days after operation. In all cases, no complications related with cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred, such as headache, dizzy, fever,neck resistance, rash, incision disunion, incision infection, hematoma, neurologic symptoms aggravation. No abnormal phenomena was found on incision surrounding at follow-up of 9 months.

CONCLUSIONUsing absorbable hemostatic fluid gelatin to plug the dura mater tear during operation is an effective method in preventing postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak ; prevention & control ; Female ; Gelatin ; administration & dosage ; Hemostatics ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo discuss the characteristics and risk factors for intracranial infection post traumatic brain injury to prevent and better the clinical care.

METHODSRetrospective study of 520 patients with traumatic brain injury were included, 308 male and 212 female. The risky factors of intracranial infection were identified.

RESULTSThirty two cases (6.54%, 32/520) of intracranial infection were diagnosed. Intracranial infection most likely happened 4-10 days after injury. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage, drainage, multiple craniotomies were significant related to intracranial infection. Logistic regression predicted cerebrospinal fluid leakage and drainage as independent factors.

CONCLUSIONIntracranial infection is a serious complication after traumatic brain injury. Patients with drainage or cerebrospinal fluid leakage are more risky for intracranial infection. Aggressive precaution should be taken to better outcome.

Adult ; Aged ; Brain Diseases ; etiology ; Brain Injuries, Traumatic ; complications ; Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections ; etiology ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of the report was to investigate the causes of CSF leakage and discuss the methods for prevention and management of CSF leakage following translabyrinthine resection of acoustic neuromas.

METHODSA retrospective review of cerebrospinal fluid leakage following translabyrinthine approach for 152 acoustic neuromas patients, from January 1983 to December 2013, was performed. The cases were divided into two groups, traditional and modified closure techniques. The incidence of CSF leakage was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe incidence of postoperative CSF leakage by translabyrinthine approach was 5.9% (9/152), with four cases of rhinorrhea, two case of wound leakage, one case of rhinorrhea and otorrhea, one case of otorrhea, and one case of rhinorrhea and wound leakage. The CSF leakage incidence of traditional closure technique was 14.3% (5/35); the incidence of modified closure technique was 3.4% (4/117). After introducing a modified closure technique, the incidence of the CSF leakage significantly decreased.

CONCLUSIONSAs a common complication of translabyrinthine approach, the incidence of CSF leakage is closely related to the closure technique. The incidence of the CSF leakage should decrease dramatically when adopting the modified closure technique.

Adult ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak ; prevention & control ; Craniotomy ; Ear, Inner ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; surgery ; Otologic Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; methods ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Retrospective Studies

INTRODUCTIONPostoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak is a serious complication following transsphenoidal surgery for which elevated body mass index (BMI) has been implicated as a risk factor, albeit only in two recent North American studies. Given the paucity of evidence, we sought to determine if this association holds true in an Asian population, where the BMI criteria for obesity differ from the international standard.

METHODSA retrospective study of 119 patients who underwent 123 transsphenoidal procedures for sellar lesions between May 2000 and May 2012 was conducted. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the impact of elevated BMI and other risk factors on postoperative CSF leak.

RESULTS10 (8.1%) procedures in ten patients were complicated by postoperative CSF leak. The median BMI of patients with postoperative leak following transsphenoidal procedures was significantly higher than that of patients without postoperative CSF leak (27.0 kg/m vs. 24.6 kg/m; p = 0.018). Patients categorised as either moderate or high risk under the Asian BMI classification were more likely to suffer from a postoperative leak (p = 0.030). Repeat procedures were also found to be significantly associated with postoperative CSF leak (p = 0.041).

CONCLUSIONElevated BMI is predictive of postoperative CSF leak following transsphenoidal procedures, even in an Asian population, where the definition of obesity differs from international standards. Thus, BMI should be considered in the clinical decision-making process prior to such procedures.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anthropometry ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak ; diagnosis ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; Obesity ; classification ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; Regression Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Singapore ; Young Adult

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of modified pedicle subtraction osteotomy for treatment of thoracolumbar old fracture with kyphosis.
 Methods: From January 2003 to January 2013, 58 patients of thoracolumbar kyphosis, who underwent modified pedicle subtraction osteotomy, were reviewed. Among them, 45 cases underwent initial operation and 13 cases underwent revision surgery. Preoperative and postoperative kyphotic Cobb's angle, score of back pain, as well as the incidence of complication were accessed by using visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI).
 Results: Mean follow-up duration was 42 months (range, 24-60 months). Average operative time was 258 min (range, 190-430 min), while average bleeding was 950 mL (range, 600-1 600 mL). All the patients were significantly improved in function and self-image, and achieved kyphosis correction with 17.9°± 4.3°. VAS of low back pain was decreased by 3.1±0.6; ODI was dropped by 25.3%±5.5%. 3 patients (5.2%) suffered anterior thigh numbness and got recovery after 3 months of follow-up. Complications happened in 19 patients, including 12 with cerebrospinal fluid leak, 4 with superficial wound infection, and 3 with urinary tract infection. All these complications were managed properly and none of them underwent reoperation.
 Conclusion: Modified pedicle subtraction osteotomy is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of old fracture with kyphosis.
Back Pain ; surgery ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; statistics & numerical data ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak ; epidemiology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Bone ; complications ; surgery ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; etiology ; Kyphosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Operative Time ; Osteotomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Reoperation ; statistics & numerical data ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Wound Infection ; epidemiology ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Tract Infections ; epidemiology