gms | German Medical Science

56. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie e. V. (DGNC)
3èmes journées françaises de Neurochirurgie (SFNC)

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie e. V.
Société Française de Neurochirurgie

07. bis 11.05.2005, Strasbourg

The neurosurgical tratement of postoperatory lumbar meningocele

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author G. Toshkezi - Department of Neurosurgery, Hopital Beaujon, Clichy, France
  • C. Combes - Department of Neurosurgery, Hopital Beaujon, Clichy, France
  • J. L. Berthelot - Department of Neurosurgery, Hopital Beaujon, Clichy, France
  • T. Faillot - Department of Neurosurgery, Hopital Beaujon, Clichy, France
  • A. Redondo - Department of Neurosurgery, Hopital Beaujon, Clichy, France

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. Société Française de Neurochirurgie. 56. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie e.V. (DGNC), 3èmes journées françaises de Neurochirurgie (SFNC). Strasbourg, 07.-11.05.2005. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2005. DocP106

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dgnc2005/05dgnc0374.shtml

Published: May 4, 2005

© 2005 Toshkezi et al.
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Outline

Text

Objective

The meningocele may be a complication of surgical procedures in the lumbar spinal cord and the large volume can cause low back pain and radiculopathy, as well “spinal headache”. Although the initial surgical procedure can be done by orthopaedist or neurosurgeon the postoperative lumbar meningocele is treated by neurosurgeon with excellent results.

Methods

7 patients presenting voluminous lumbar meningocele have been treated at our service. They were 5 female and 2 male patients to 30 till 56 years old.6 patients were treated for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation for this they underwent the interlaminar microdiscectomy and 1 patient underwent the radical decompression with fusion. From 7 patients presenting sub cutaneus tumour like formations containing CSF after surgery, only 1 patients didn’t presented any symptoms, the other 6 patients presented low back pain and radiculopathy where it was accompanied with important headaches “spinal headache” in one patient because of decreased intracranial pressure within the posture.

Results

All the patients were operated.The operation of the meningocele was consisting in watertight primary closure of the dura protecting the nerves whose can be injured or herniated through the dural opening. In one patient the persisting meningocele after the surgical correction was resolved with a lumboperitoneal shunt.

Conclusions

The meningocele can be a complication of the surgical treatment of the lumbar disc herniation after the unintended dural tear and if it breaches the skin it may be a factor for developing meningitis. Pain or sensory/motor deficits may be associated with injuries to nerves or herniation of nerves through the dural opening. The lumbar puncture is not recommended because of the increased risk of meningitis.The neurosurgical treatment is the best with excellent results.