Liaqat Ali, Muhammad Hussain, Nisar Ali, Mohammad Ismail.
Incidence and management of dural tears in degenerative spinal surgery.
Pak J Neuro Surg Jan ;15(2):117-9.

Objects: The purpose of this study was to study the incidence, results and treatment of Dural Tears sustained during operation on lumbar spine for degenerative spine diseases in peripheral teaching hospital.Study Design: This was an observational descriptive study.Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Neuro Surgery Saidu teaching Hospital swat from Jan 2007 to Dec: 2010. During this period a total of 305 patients underwent spinal surgery were included in our study. Preliminary preoperative imaging and preparation was performed in these patients.Results: A total of 305 patients including in this study. The male female ratio was 1:1.67% out of 305 patients primary surgery was performed in 238 patients while revisional surgery was perform in 67 cases. a total of 29 cases had dural tears, in 27 patients Dural tear was recognized preoperatively out of which 21 tears where repaired and 6 patients were treated conservatively. Conservative treatment was not successful in these 6 patients and they underwent Re exploration and repair. In 2 cases dural tears were diagnosed latter on due to CSF leakage in 1 case pseudomeningocele is 2nd cases conservative trial failed have both were reoperated for dural repair.Conclusion: Dural tears is more common in revisional surgery and all Dural Tears should be repair.

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