Dural Injury Treatment with a Full-Endoscopic Transforaminal Approach: A Case Report and Description of Surgical Technique

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to describe a surgical technique that uses transforaminal full-endoscopic access, which is different from the existing protocol, and to demonstrate another method of dural tear repair during endoscopic spine surgery. BACKGROUND: Endoscopic spine surgery was initially described for lumbar disc pathologies. Technical advances and new materials have made it possible to treat cervical and thoracic spinal degenerative disorders. These advances have also made it possible to treat surgical complications, notably dural tears with CSF fistulas. The literature indicates that the incidence of these injuries ranges from 1% to 17%. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Descriptive technical note of innovative and improved endoscopic surgical procedure exemplified with illustrative clinical case and comparative literature review. RESULTS: There is only one report describing a full-endoscopic suture technique for dural sac repair. The gold standard for treatment of the most significant nonpunctate lesions continues to be a conversion to open surgery for lesion closure. Conversion can be problematic because most surgeries are performed under sedation and local anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: In this case report and the new endoscopic suture technique described here, we show that primary correction of dural tears through endoscopy is possible. In addition to representing a paradigm break in solving one of the main complications of these procedures, it can expand the possibilities of spine endoscopy.