Abstract
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak is a complication that may occur after translabyrinthine
(translab) acoustic neuroma (AN) removal. The aim of this study is to verify the incidence
of CSF leak using two techniques for dural defect closure in translab AN surgery and
present a new technique for dural repair. A retrospective study was held, reviewing
charts of 34 patients in a tertiary neurotologic referral center. Out of these 34
patients that underwent translab AN excision in a 1-year period, 18 had their dural
defect repaired using only abdominal fat graft and 16 using synthetic dura substitute
(SDS) plus abdominal fat tissue. One patient (5.5%) in the first group had CSF leak
and 1 (6.2%) in the second group had CSF leak postoperatively. Our data suggest that
there are no significant differences in CSF leak rates using both techniques, although
studies in a larger series must be undertaken to conclude it. We believe that the
development of some points in the new technique for dural repair can achieve better
results and reduce the CSF leak incidence in the translabyrinthine acoustic neuroma
surgery in the near future.
Keywords
acoustic neuroma - translabyrinthine - cerebrospinal fluid leak - dural defect