Update on Epidural Scar Prevention and Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks and Dural Repair

This article seeks to update the practicing spine surgeon on new technologies employed by products recently released (or in development) that facilitate dural repair and grafting, or that seek to prevent epidural fibrosis. An understanding of the attributes and biologic properties that these products utilize will serve to highlight current thinking and techniques. To this end, the surgeon should be able to make critical distinctions about risk/benefit options when selecting products and adopting new techniques.

Keywords: epidural scar prevention, fluid leaks, dural repair, grafting, epidural fibrosis, revision spine surgery