5 key notes on dural tears in lumbar spine surgery

Spine
Laura Dyrda -

Are there factors that predispose dural tears in patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery?

A new study published in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine examines 523 patients who underwent lumbar and thoracolumbar spine surgery. There were 131 patients who underwent discectomy and 392 patients who underwent laminectomy.

 

Here are five findings from the study:

 

1. There were six discectomy patients who reported dural tears; there were 49 laminectomy patients who reported dural tears.

 

2. The patients with incidental durotomy were older; the average age of those with an incidental durotomy was 65 years old, as opposed to 60 years old for the patients without incidental durotomy.

 

3. The patients with incidental durotomy were also more likely to have longer surgical times. Those with durotomy reported on average 146 minutes, compared to 110 minutes among those who didn't have a dural tear.

 

4. Dural tears were more common for patients who had a history of previous spine surgeries.

 

5. The researchers concluded, "In patients who underwent lumbar and thoracolumbar spine surgery for degenerative problems, previous surgery and older age were found to be predisposing factors for dural tear."

 

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