![]() Other symptoms can include neck pain or stiffness, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, and a metallic taste in the mouth. Ī loss of CSF greater than its rate of production leads to a decreased volume inside the skull known as intracranial hypotension.Īny CSF leak is most often characterized by orthostatic headaches, which worsen when standing, and improve when lying down. Spontaneous CSF leaks are associated with heritable connective tissue disorders including Marfan syndrome and Ehlers–Danlos syndromes. Traumatic causes include a lumbar puncture noted by a post-dural-puncture headache, or a fall or other accident. Ī CSF leak is either caused by trauma including that arising from medical interventions or spontaneously sometimes in those with predisposing conditions (known as a spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak or sCSF leak). A spinal CSF leak can be caused by one or more meningeal diverticula or CSF-venous fistulas not associated with an epidural leak. A cerebrospinal fluid leak can be either cranial or spinal, and these are two different disorders. The spinal meninges of the central nervous system impacted by CSF leakĪ cerebrospinal fluid leak ( CSF leak or CSFL) is a medical condition where the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) surrounding the brain or spinal cord leaks out of one or more holes or tears in the dura mater. They are more than willing to answer all of your questions along the way.Medical condition Cerebrospinal fluid leak They make your treatment journey easier by guiding you through it step by step. Our patient navigators become your one-stop shop for scheduling appointments, coordinating your visits, communicating your test results, and planning surgery. Patient Navigators for Coordination of Care Their combined expertise ensures you experience a better outcome. Our team of sinus specialists, otologists, neurotologists, neuroradiologists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, neuro-ophthalmologists, and others work together to coordinate your treatment. Our advanced training, experience, and large number of cases contribute to our excellent results. This can optimize your surgeon's accuracy and help them avoid damage to surrounding tissue.ĭuke is one of the few centers in the country with the expertise to diagnose and treat CSF leaks that cause chronic headaches and other symptoms. The technique combines CT scans (which are ideal for displaying bony anatomy) and MRI scans (which are ideal for displaying softer tissues and fluids) and uses reference points to identify important neurological structures. You should begin to find relief from pain and other symptoms after seven to ten days.ĬT/MRI fusion is a navigation system, similar to a GPS, used during CSF leak surgery. You’ll be asked to return for follow-up visits one week after surgery and several more times at increasing intervals. This requires a longer hospital stay, usually three to seven days. You’ll need to stay in the hospital for three or four nights.įor leaks on the back of the skull (posterior) or that are difficult to access through the nose or behind the ear, surgeons may perform a traditional craniotomy, which requires a larger opening in the skull. ![]() This technique speeds recovery, leaves no visible scars, and requires only a couple of nights’ stay in the hospital.įor leaks on the side of the skull (lateral), surgeons may access and repair the leak through incisions behind the ear, which leave less visible scarring. Once surgeons reach the leak site, they repair the hole by plugging it with tissue or fat.įor leaks on the front of the skull (anterior), surgeons may access and repair the leak through the nostrils using a minimally invasive, endoscopic approach. Surgical approaches are tailored to the exact location of the leak. Surgery is often the best treatment option for cranial CSF leaks. Without treatment, CSF leaks can lead to loss of vision or other senses, hydrocephalus (a buildup of fluid in the cavities inside the brain), dangerous infections like meningitis, or death. The most common signs for cranial CSF leaks include chronic headaches and watery discharge from the nose or ear, especially on one side. Intracranial hypertension can be primary, meaning there is no certain cause, or secondary to another problem, such as a brain bleed. Too much CSF can wear down the skull, making it weak and prone to crack. Intracranial hypertension is similar to high blood pressure, but in the brain. This can be caused by a traumatic injury, tumor, infection, surgery, or intracranial hypertension. When an area of the skull is damaged, becomes thin, or cracks, the dura (the tissue that holds cerebrospinal fluid and surrounds the brain and spine) is exposed and can easily tear. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a watery fluid that protects, nourishes, and removes waste from the brain and spinal cord.
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