Treatment Options for CSF Leak

A conservative treatment approach may be preferred where the severity of the CSF Leak and the sufferers symptoms do not warrant the risk of a more invasive approach.

Conservative treatment options include:

• Bed rest
• Hydration (2-3 litres per day)
• IV caffeine infusions
• Strong coffee or caffeine tablets

In cases where a conservative treatments have not yielded results, symptoms are severe or the sufferer is at risk of losing quality of life, one of the following invasive treatments may be used.

Epidural Blood Patch

An epidural blood patch, where blood is drawn from the patient and immediately injected into the epidural space, is the most common invasive treatment for spinal leaks. Where the leak site is known, blood will be injected as close to it as possible. Where the leak site is not known, a high volume blood patch (typically 20ml) is injected into the lumbar spine (less commonly, the thoracic spine). Blood patches are generally thought to be relatively safe, but occasional reports of increased CSF pressure, persistent epidural fluid collections, nerve damage and infection have been reported.

Fibrin Glue

Fibrin glue can be applied, in much the same way as a blood patch to seal a known spinal CSF leak site. Fibrin glue is often used where a blood patch repeatedly fails. Occasionally, glue may be mixed with blood and injected as a combination patch, and this is sometimes used where the precise leak site is not known, but a relatively small area of the spine is suspected.

Surgical Repair

A surgical repair may be performed where a patient fails to respond to a blood patch, or a blood patch fails, if the site of the leak has been identified. Surgical repairs can include suturing, the application of artificial dura patches, and the use of aneury sm clips. If the site is not known, but an area is suspect, exploratory surgery may sometimes be possible, with any discovered leak being repaired as above. Cranial leaks tend to require surgery as there are a few less invasive treatment options.

Last reviewed: 2021