Ventral Spontaneous Durotomy Following Vaginal Delivery

Dural breaches have a diverse etiology, including spontaneous rupture and trauma. Most cases resolve with bed rest; in refractory cases, an epidural blood patch can be placed to obstruct further leakage. We discuss a unique case of a spontaneous ventral durotomy following vaginal delivery that was managed with injections of autologous blood through bilateral transforaminal needles.

A previously healthy, 36-year-old pregnant woman presented to the inpatient maternity ward with positional occipital headaches and neck pain 24 hours after normal spontaneous vaginal delivery. Two dorsally placed epidural blood patches provided only transient relief. Computed tomography myelography revealed ventral cerebrospinal fluid leak. Targeted therapy was provided with computed tomography-guided ventral placement of a blood patch.

Spontaneous durotomy is a rare phenomenon and should be considered in patients who present with positional headaches. Ventrally targeted therapy via an epidural blood patch should be considered to provide optimal relief.