Repair of cerebrospinal fluid leak during posterior thoracolumbar surgery using paraspinal muscle flap combined with fat graft

ObjectiveThis study aimed to propose a novel surgical method via combination of fat graft and paraspinal muscle flap, in order to treat cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak during posterior thoracolumbar surgery. The clinical outcomes were also evaluated. MethodsData of a total of 71 patients who were diagnosed with intraoperative incidental durotomy and CSF leak after posterior thoracolumbar surgery in our hospital form January 2019 to January 2021 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Among them, 34 and 37 patients were assigned into conventional suturing (CS) group and fat graft and paraspinal muscle flap (FPM) group, respectively. Patients' demographic and clinical data were compared between the two groups. ResultsThe average drainage tube time in the FPM group was 3.89 ± 1.17 days, which was shorter than that in the CS group (5.12 ± 1.56, P