A systematic review and meta-analysis on the management of accidental dural tears in spinal surgery: drowning in information but thirsty for a clear message.

Purpose: To systematically review the published techniques for dural tear (DT) repair in spinal surgery to determine the repair method associated with the lowest failure rate.

Method: A systematic literature search was conducted. Studies reporting the treatment of accidental DT in elective spinal surgery were selected and reviewed with regards to the incidence of DT, repair techniques and outcome.