Oliver Enke1, Jasan Dannaway1, Matthew Tait2, Charles H New1. 1. 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nepean Hospital, Kingswood, NSW Australia. 2. 2Department of Neurosurgery, Nepean Hospital, Kingswood, NSW Australia.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Incidental durotomy is a relatively common complication of spine surgery. Prevalence ranges from 3 to 5% in primary and 7 to 17% in revision procedures. Despite this relatively common occurrence the subsequent development of pseudomeningoceles following lumbar spine surgery is reported to be between 0.07 and 2%. Giant pseudomeningoceles (GP) are rare and therefore we report our experience with a case. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of an iatrogenic GP post revision lumbar surgery that extended 19 cm in length. The patient underwent revision L3-S1 laminectomy, laminotomy, excision of pseudomeningocele and successful direct dura repair. Postoperatively, a subcutaneous seroma persisted. This was managed with surgical exploration and prolonged drainage. This led to reduction of the seroma and symptomatic improvement for the patient. DISCUSSION: Incidental durotomy is a relatively common complication of spine surgery and if the durotomy is not addressed at the time of an operation a pseudomeningocele may develop. A pragmatic approach for GP is to individualise management based upon symptoms. Although GP are rare, prevention is likely the best approach. We outlined a structured approach to the management of an incidental dural leak that formed the largest reported pseudomeningocele reported to date.
INTRODUCTION: Incidental durotomy is a relatively common complication of spine surgery. Prevalence ranges from 3 to 5% in primary and 7 to 17% in revision procedures. Despite this relatively common occurrence the subsequent development of pseudomeningoceles following lumbar spine surgery is reported to be between 0.07 and 2%. Giant pseudomeningoceles (GP) are rare and therefore we report our experience with a case. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of an iatrogenic GP post revision lumbar surgery that extended 19 cm in length. The patient underwent revision L3-S1 laminectomy, laminotomy, excision of pseudomeningocele and successful direct dura repair. Postoperatively, a subcutaneous seroma persisted. This was managed with surgical exploration and prolonged drainage. This led to reduction of the seroma and symptomatic improvement for the patient. DISCUSSION: Incidental durotomy is a relatively common complication of spine surgery and if the durotomy is not addressed at the time of an operation a pseudomeningocele may develop. A pragmatic approach for GP is to individualise management based upon symptoms. Although GP are rare, prevention is likely the best approach. We outlined a structured approach to the management of an incidental dural leak that formed the largest reported pseudomeningocele reported to date.