[Conservative treatment of CSF leakage after lumbosacral operations]

CSF leakage through a postoperative lumbosacral wound is an uncommon complication. It may result from excessive traction on nerve roots, or direct trauma or laceration at operation, causing inadvertent opening of the dura (1,4). Other reasons for this complication are residual bone spikes postlaminectomy, traumatic myelography puncture (2), and improper suture of dural defects. We examined 8 patients who had postoperative CSF leakage as the sole complication of lumbosacral spinal operations. They were all treated conservatively with bed rest in the Trendelenburg position, antibiotic coverage, watertight skin suturing and daily subcutaneous puncture. Each patient had been operated on for a different condition.