Incidental durotomy during tubular microdiscectomy does not preclude same-day discharge

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Spinal Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Procedures

Background:

• Minimally invasive microdiscectomy offers advantages, including reduced dead space for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks.
• Limited data exists on same-day discharge outcomes for incidental durotomy after tubular microdiscectomy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and outcomes of same-day discharge for patients experiencing CSF leaks during minimally invasive tubular microdiscectomy.
• To compare same-day discharge with overnight hospitalization for incidental durotomy.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective comparative study of 30 patients with incidental durotomy during minimally invasive tubular microdiscectomy.
• Patients were divided into same-day discharge (n=14) and hospitalized (n=16) groups.
• Surgical repair involved onlay duraplasty (97%) or sutures (3%); no open conversions were needed.

Main Results:

• No significant demographic differences were observed between discharge and hospitalization groups.
• All patients (100%) had successful CSF leak repair without readmission or revision surgery.
• Hospitalized patients averaged 2.4 days of admission, while discharged patients had minimal bed rest.

Conclusions:

• Same-day discharge is a safe and effective strategy for managing incidental durotomy after minimally invasive tubular microdiscectomy.
• This approach can reduce hospital length of stay without compromising patient outcomes.