Dural Tears in Adult Deformity Surgery: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Outcomes

Abstract

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Objectives: Describe the rate of dural tears (DTs) in adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery. Describe the risk factors for DT and the impact of this complication on clinical outcomes. Methods: Patients with ASD undergoing surgery between 2008 and 2014 were separated into DT and non-DT cohorts; demographics, operative details, radiographic, and clinical outcomes were compared. Statistical analysis included t tests or χ2 tests as appropriate and a multivariate analysis. Results: A total of 564 patients were identified. The rate of DT was 10.8% (n = 61). Patients with DT were older (61.1 vs 56.5 years, P =.005) and were more likely to have had prior spine surgery (odds ratio [OR] = 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2-3.3, P =.007). DT patients had higher pelvic tilt, lower lumbar lordosis, and greater pelvic-incidence lumbar lordosis mismatch than non-DT patients (P