A Better Method for Repairing Lumbar Dural Tears? A Review of the Literature

Although dural tears are a frequent complication of lumbar spine surgery, no standardized method exists for their treatment. Given the growing number of spinal procedures performed worldwide, it is important to codify an effective strategy for managing repair of the dura mater. This paper is a review of the comparative effectiveness of the current treatments available for dural tears. Our findings suggest that, where possible, repair should be made via direct suturing using material that minimizes the difference between the size of needle and thread. Adhesives and glues, such as DuraSeal™ (Medtronic, PLC, Minneapolis, Minnesota), should be considered to augment the strength of the repair and collagen xenografts should be used where suturing is impossible. An enhanced effort in this research area is necessary to reinforce and improve these recommendations.