INCIDENTAL DUROTOMY DURING DEGENERATIVE LUMBAR SPINE SURGERY: INCIDENCE AND RISK FACTORS

ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors of incidental durotomy during degenerative lumbar spine surgery.
Material and methods: This observational study was conducted in the Department of Neurosurgery Lady Reading
Hospital Peshawar from January 2011 to December 2012 (2 years).There were 67 patients with incidental durotomy
during degenerative lumbar spine surgery. We included those patients in our study, who undergone surgery for degenerative
lumbar spine irrespective of the age and gender and excluded those who had some fusion procedure for
the same disease or involved spine other than lumbar spine. The patients were observed for incidental durotomy and
possible risk factors.
Results: We had total of 1176 patients who undergone surgery for degenerative lumbar spine of which 5.7% patients
had incidental durotomy. There were 65.7% were males and 34.3% females with male / female ratio of 1.9: 1. It was
more common in old age (47.8%), stenosis (4%), multiple level disease (3.1%) and those with redo surgeries.
Conclusion: We conclude from our study that the incidence of incidental durotomy during degenerative lumbar spine
surgery is 5.7% and Risk factors are male sex, older age, stenosis, multiple level surgeries and redo surgery.
Key words: lumbar disc herniation, Spinal stenosis, Complication, Surgery, Outcome