Risk Factors for Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

Study Design/setting: This was a retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Specifically, we evaluated: (1) demographic risk factors; (2) comorbid risk factors; (3) indications for surgery; and (4) lengths of stay.

Summary Of Background Data: CSF leak is a rare but serious complication of ACDF. Currently, there is a paucity of literature describing the risk factors for CSF leak following ACDF.

Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was used to identify all patients who underwent cervical fusion using the anterior approach with excision of intervertebral disc between 1998 and 2010. Patients who had a diagnosis of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the cervical region were excluded. All patients who had a CSF leak were identified. Demographics and comorbidities were compared via χ analysis, and logistic regression to calculate the odds of having a CSF leak.

Results: Of the 1,261,140 patients identified, 3048 patients (0.24%) had a postoperative CSF leak. Patients who were between the ages of 55 and 69 years (P=0.038) and 70 years or older (P=0.001) were at an increased risk of CSF leak compared with patients who were aged 40-54 years. Non-white race (P=0.021), obesity, (P<0.001) and hypertension (P=0.025) were associated with an increased risk of CSF leak, but diabetes (P=0.966) and hyperlipidemia (P=0.226) were not. Herniated disc diagnosis was associated with decreased risk of CSF leak (P=0.032), but cervical spondylosis with myelopathy patients had an increased risk (P<0.001). Patients with CSF leak had a mean length of stay of 6.0 days compared with 2.1 days among controls.

Conclusions: Surgical candidates who are older and non-white should be counseled of their increased risk for CSF leak in preoperative planning. Patients who are obese and have hypertension may benefit from medical optimization before surgery.

Level Of Evidence: Level III.