Revision Surgery Technique in the Treatment of Refractory Subcutaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid Collection Combined with Intracranial Infection Following Posterior Fossa Surgery

Objective Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage remains the most common and serious complication following posterior fossa surgery. Persistent subcutaneous CSF collections can cause wound dehiscence and predispose patients to intracranial infection. Management with conservative treatment fails in up to 40% of patients, and revision surgery remains the last resort. We hereby introduce a novel surgical technique using muscle graft or pedicled trapezius muscle flaps to repair dura and skull base defect for the treatment of subcutaneous CSF collections refractory to conservative management. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted for six patients who presented to our institution from 2012 to 2020, with subcutaneous CSF collections following posterior fossa surgeries and had undergone revision surgeries after unsuccessful management with conservative treatments. Patient demographics, etiologies, culture results, revision procedures, follow-ups, and recurrences of fluid collections were collected. Results Of these six patients, two underwent repair of dura and skull base defect with pedicled trapezius muscle flaps, and four had arachnoid fistula repaired with autologous muscle graft. All six patients fully recovered. CSF leakage and subcutaneous fluid collections were resolved. No recurrences occurred upon the last follow-ups. Conclusion A revision surgery using muscle graft or pedicled trapezius muscle flaps to repair the dura and skull base defect is effective at treating persistent cerebrospinal fluid leakage and subcutaneous fluid collection refractory to conservative treatment.