Lumbar pseudomeningocele after spinal surgery

Abstract

Among the intraoperative complications of lumbar spinal surgery the most frequently is incidental dural tear, which is encountered in 10% of the primary interventions and a double number of cases in relapses. This paper describes a case followed 10 months with repeated MRI imaging demonstrating the effectiveness of percutaneus evacuating puncture of pseudomeningocele followed by lumbar compression and 3 days bed rest in Trendelenburg position. The paper presents also other methods of treatment described in the literature: the role of prophylactic antibiotherapy, blood patch, bed rest in Trendelenburg, lumbar drainage and surgical revision.

Keywords

• back surgery complications
• pseudomeningocele
• lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (csf) fistula
• incidental durotomy