Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39432743›Full record

ArticleOperative neurosurgery (Hagerstown, Md.)2025

Safety, Sequelae, and Efficacy of Nerve Root Clipping in Patients With Spontaneous Spinal Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks.

Amir El Rahal, Benedikt Haupt, Katharina Wolf, Bianca Blass, Ioannis Vasilikos, Manou Overstijns, Mukesch Johannes Shah, Niklas Lützen, Horst Urbach, Levin Häni and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Operative neurosurgery (Hagerstown, Md.), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Amir El RahalDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg , Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-8250-5883
Benedikt HauptDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg , Germany.
Katharina WolfDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg , Germany.
Bianca BlassDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg , Germany.
Ioannis VasilikosDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg , Germany.
Manou OverstijnsDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg , Germany.
Mukesch Johannes ShahDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg , Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-7224-9185
Niklas LützenDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg , Germany.
Horst UrbachDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg , Germany.
Levin HäniDepartment of Neurosurgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern , Switzerland.
Christian FungDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg , Germany.
Jürgen BeckDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg , Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-7687-6098
Florian VolzDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg , Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-7274-519

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesSpinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks may cause a myriad of clinical symptoms, the most common being orthostatic headache. Lateral leaks (Type II) and direct CSF-venous fistulas (Type III) are a subgroup of spinal CSF leaks, representing about 1/3 of spinal CSF leaks. This study aimed to analyze the risk and efficacy of nerve root clipping in patients with Type II and Type III CSF leaks.

methodsAll consecutive patients with Type II and Type III CSF fistulas treated with nerve root clipping at our institution from May 2018 to December 2022 were included. Patients were evaluated for postoperative sensory motor deficits and neuropathic pain using the "Douleur Neuropathique 4" questionnaire, and the outcome was evaluated using the "Patient Global Impression of Change" and the return-to-work rate.

resultsA total of 40 patients were included, and the mean follow-up time was 22 months. According to the Patient Global Impression of Change, significant symptoms improvement was reported in 85% of patients. Over 87% of patients returned to work fully or partially. One patient experienced a low-grade motor deficit after T1-nerve root clipping. 2.5% of patients developed postoperative neuropathic pain requiring medical treatment under which they fully improved. Over 80% of patients developed dermatomal hypoesthesia, with no reported effect on quality of life.

conclusionThe surgical strategy of noneloquent nerve root clipping shows favorable outcomes and return-to-work rates. There are instances of neuropathic pain and dermatomal hypoesthesia with no significant morbidity. Despite the favorable outcome and low recurrence rate, nerve root-sparing surgical techniques should be further explored.

Indexed as

Cerebrospinal Fluid LeakNeurosurgical ProceduresSpinal Nerve RootsAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeuralgiaPostoperative ComplicationsRetrospective StudiesSurgical InstrumentsTreatment OutcomeCSF-venous fistulaLateral leaksNeurosurgerySIHSpontaneous intracranial hypotensionSurgical closure

Identifiers

PMID39432743
PMCPMC11981435

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.