Cerebrospinal fluid fistula after spine surgery

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Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid fistula is a well-known complication in spine surgery that lead to a significant change in the length of hospitalization and possible postoperative complications.

The causes of CSF fistula after spine surgery can include:

Accidental injury to the dura mater, which is the thin, delicate membrane that covers the spinal cord and brain. This can occur during surgery due to a variety of factors, including excessive traction, cutting, or tearing of the dura mater. Infection of the surgical site, which can weaken the dura mater and lead to a fistula. Degenerative changes in the spine, which can cause weakness or thinning of the dura mater. Symptoms of a CSF fistula after spine surgery may include:

Persistent headache that worsens when sitting or standing and improves when lying down. Drainage of clear fluid from the surgical site. Nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. Neck stiffness or pain. Changes in vision or hearing. Treatment for a CSF fistula after spine surgery may include:

Observation and conservative management, such as bed rest, hydration, and pain management. Surgical repair of the fistula may involve re-approximating the dura mater and/or using synthetic materials to close the fistula. Antibiotic treatment for infections that may be contributing to the fistula. Overall, CSF fistula after spine surgery is a rare but potentially serious complication that requires prompt recognition and treatment to prevent further complications and improve outcomes.

see Cerebrospinal fluid fistula treatment.

see External lumbar cerebrospinal fluid drainage for cerebrospinal fluid fistula.

In a review, Fang et al. compared the effects of different dural closure techniques, and introduce the latest treatment methods and mechanisms ¹⁾.

• Is lumbar drainage of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid fistula after spine surgery effective?
• Effect of fibrin glue on the prevention of persistent cerebral spinal fluid leakage after incidental durotomy during lumbar spinal surgery
• Postoperative management of incidental durotomy in minimally invasive lumbar spinal surgery
• Surgical management of dural injuries and postoperative cerebrospinal fluid fistulas in spinal surgeries

For Hohenberger et al. bed rest and laxative treatment were important approaches to preventing CSF fistula ²⁾.

For Verma et al. Flatbed rest > 24 hours following incidental durotomy was associated with increased length of stay and increased rate of medical complications. After primary repair of an incidental durotomy, flatbed rest may not be necessary and appears to be associated with higher costs and complications ³⁾.

To assess whether prolonged bed rest may lower the risk of CSFL. Krahwinkel et al. from the Münster University Hospital performed a retrospective cohort study including patients with intradural pathologies who underwent surgery between 2013 and 2021. Cohorts included patients who completed 3 days of postoperative bed rest and patients who were mobilized earlier. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of clinically proven CSFL.

Four hundred and thirty-three patients were included (female [51.7%], male [48.3%]) with a mean age of 48 years (SD ±20). Bed rest was ordered in 315 cases (72.7%). In 7 cases (N = 7/433, 1.6%), they identified a postoperative CSFL. Four of them (N = 4/118) did not preserve bed rest, showing no significant difference to the bed rest cohort (N = 3/315; P = .091). In univariate analysis, laminectomy (N = 4/61; odds ratio [OR] 8.632, 95% CI 1.883-39.573), expansion duraplasty (N = 6/70; OR 33.938, 95% CI 4.019-286.615), and recurrent surgery (N = 5/66; OR 14.959, 95% CI 2.838-78.838) were significant risk factors for developing CSFL. In multivariate analysis, expansion duraplasty was confirmed as an independent risk factor (OR 33.937, 95% CI 4.018-286.615, P = .001). In addition, patients with CSFL had a significantly higher risk for meningitis (N = 3/7; 42.8%, P = .001).

Prolonged bed rest did not protect patients from developing CSFL after surgery on intradural pathologies. Avoiding laminectomy, large voids, and minimally invasive approaches may play a role in preventing CSFL. Furthermore, special caution is indicated if expansion duraplasty was done ⁴⁾.