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Spine

LONG-TERM OUTCOME OF LUMBAR SPINE SURGERY COMPLICATED BY UNINTENDED INCIDENTAL DUROTOMY

British Association of Spinal Surgeons (BASS)



Abstract

Purpose

To establish whether incidental durotomy complicating lumbar spine surgery adversely affects long-term outcome.

Methods

Data was collected prospectively. The study population comprised 200 patients. 19 patients who sustained dural tears (Group A) were compared to a control group of 181 patients with no tear (Group B). Outcomes were measured with the SF-36, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and visual analogue scores for back (VB) and leg (VL) pain. Scores for the 2 groups were compared pre-operatively, at 2 and 6 months post-op for all patients and at long-term follow-up (range 2-9 years) for patients in group A.

In addition for patients in group A the patients satisfaction with the procedure, ongoing symptoms, employment status and analgesic intake were documented.

Results

Pre-operative scores were similar between the 2 groups apart from significantly higher vb scores (63 –A vs 46-B). Results at 2 and 6 months showed no significant differences between the 2 groups. Outcome scores for group A at long-term follow-up do not show any significant decline.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that incidental dural tears complicating lumbar spine surgery do not adversely affect outcome in the long-term.

Ethics - none, Interest –none.