Clinical management of dural defects:A review

Dural defects are common in spinal and cranial neurosurgery.A series of complications,such as cerebrospinal fluid leakage,occur after rupture of the dura.Therefore,treatment strategies are necessary to reduce or avoid complications.This review comprehensively summarizes the common causes,risk factors,clinical complications,and repair methods of dural defects.The latest research progress on dural repair methods and materials is summarized,including direct sutures,grafts,biomaterials,non-biomaterial materials,and composites formed by different materials.The characteristics and efficacy of these dural substitutes are reviewed,and these materials and methods are systematically evaluated.Finally,the best methods for dural repair and the challenges and future prospects of new dural repair materials are discussed.

Late presentation of dural tears:Two case reports and review of literature

BACKGROUND The late presentation of dural tears(LPDT)has a low incidence rate and hidden symptoms and is easily ignored in clinical practice.If the disease is not treated in time,a series of complications may occur,including low intracranial pressure headache,infection,pseudodural cyst formation,and sinus formation.Here,we describe two cases of LPDT.CASE SUMMARY Two patients had sudden fever 1 wk after lumbar surgery.Physical examination showed obvious tenderness in the operation area.The patients were confirmed as having LPDT by lumbar magnetic resonance imaging and surgical exploration.One case was caused by continuous negative pressure suction and malnutrition,and the other was caused by decreased dural ductility and low postoperative nutritional status.The first symptom of both patients was fever,with occasional headache.Both patients underwent secondary surgery to treat the LPDT.Dural defects were observed and dural sealants were used to seal the dural defects,then drainage tubes were retained for drainage.After the operation,the patients were treated with antibiotics and the patients’surgical incisions healed well,without fever or incision tenderness.Both recovered and were discharged 1 wk after the operation.CONCLUSION LPDT is a rare complication of spinal surgery or neurosurgery that has hidden symptoms and can easily be overlooked.Since it may cause a series of complic-ations,LPDT needs to be actively addressed in clinical practice.

Computer navigation-assisted minimally invasive percutaneous screw placement for pelvic fractures

Pelvic fractures are often caused by high-energy injuries and accompanied by hemodynamic instability.Traditional open surgery has a large amount of bleeding,which is not suitable for patients with acute pelvic fracture.Navigationguided,percutaneous puncture-screw implantation has gradually become a preferred procedure due to its advantages,which include less trauma,faster recovery times,and less bleeding.However,due to the complexity of pelvic anatomy,doctors often encounter some problems when using navigation to treat pelvic fractures.This article reviews the indications,contraindications,surgical procedures,and related complications of this procedure for the treatment of sacral fractures,sacroiliac joint injuries,pelvic ring injuries,and acetabular fractures.We also analyze the causes of inaccurate screw placement.Percutaneous screw placement under navigational guidance has the advantages of high accuracy,low incidence of complications and small soft-tissue damage,minimal blood loss,short hospital stays,and quick recovery.There is no difference in the incidence of complications between surgeries performed by new doctors and experienced ones.However,computer navigation technology requires extensive training,and attention should be given to avoid complications such as screw misplacement,intestinal injury,and serious blood vessel and nerve injuries caused by navigational drift.

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula 8 years after lumbar discectomy surgery: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula(SDAVF)is an extremely rare vascular malformation of the central nervous system that is often confused with degenerative spinal disorders due to similar early symptoms and clinical features.Here,we report a case of SDAVF recurrence 8 years after lumbar spine surgery and summarize relevant literature.CASE SUMMARY A 54-year-old male was admitted to our hospital complaining of lower back pain,numbness in both lower extremities and intermittent claudication.Subsequent imaging identified lumbar spinal stenosis.Following surgical treatment,the patient’s symptoms significantly resolved,and he was able to perform daily activities.However,similar symptoms appeared 8 years later,followed by confirmation of SDAVF diagnosis.The patient underwent neurosurgery 7 mo after symptom onset.The follow-up period lasted 14 mo,and the patient remains with marginal neurological symptoms.CONCLUSION This case highlights the importance of prompt SDAVF diagnosis.Due to its nonspecific clinical presentation,the clinical experience of the surgeon and definitive imaging examination are indispensable.Additionally,timely neurosurgery is effective and may significantly improve patient outcomes.