Back to TopCauses Any tear or hole in the membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord (dura) can allow the fluid that surrounds those organs to leak. This fluid is called the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). When it leaks out, the pressure around the brain and spinal cord drops. Causes of leakage through the dura include: Certain head, brain, or spinal surgeries Head injury Placement of tubes for epidural anesthesia or pain medications Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) Sometimes, no cause can be found. This is called a spontaneous CSF leak. Back to TopSymptoms Symptoms may include: A headache that is worse when you sit up and improves when you lie down. It may be associated with: Light sensitivity Nausea Neck stiffness Drainage of CSF from the ear (rarely) Drainage of CSF from the nose (rarely) Back to TopExams and Tests Diagnosis is usually based on your history of injury, surgery, or lumbar puncture. Tests may include: CT scan of the head with contrast dye CT myelogram MRI of the head or spine Radioisotope test of the CSF to track the leakage Back to TopTreatment Depending on the cause of the leak, many cases go away on their own after a few days. Complete bed rest for several days is usually recommended. Drinking increased fluids, especially drinks with caffeine, can help slow or stop the leak and may help with headache pain. Headache may be treated with pain relievers and fluids. If the headache lasts longer than a week after a lumbar puncture, a procedure may be done to block the hole that may be leaking fluid. This is called a blood patch, because a blood clot can be used to seal the leak. In most cases, this makes symptoms go away. Rarely, surgery is needed to repair a tear in the dura and stop the headache. Symptoms of infection (fever, chills, change in mental status) that occur after surgery on the brain or spinal cord or a lumbar puncture are a medical emergency and need to be treated with antibiotics. Back to TopOutlook (Prognosis) The outlook is usually good depending on the cause. Most cases heal by themselves with no lasting symptoms. If the CSF leak keeps coming back, high pressure of the CSF (hydrocephalus) might be the cause and should be treated. Back to TopPossible Complications Complications may occur if the cause is surgery or trauma. Infections after surgery or trauma can lead to meningitis and serious complications, such as swelling of the brain. Back to TopWhen to Contact a Medical Professional Call your health care provider if: You have a headache that gets worse when you sit up, especially if you have recently had a head injury, surgery, or childbirth involving epidural anesthesia. You have a moderate head injury, and then develop a headache that is worse when you sit up, or you have a thin, clear fluid draining from your nose or ear. Back to TopPrevention Most CSF leaks are a complication of a spinal tap or surgery. The health care provider should use the smallest needle possible when doing a spinal tap. Back to TopReferences DeAngelis LM. Tumors of the central nervous system and intracranial hypertension and hypotension. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Cecil Medicine . 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 195. Garza I, Swanson JW, Cheshire WP Jr, et al. Headache and other craniofacial pain. In: Daroff RB, Fenichel GM, Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, eds. Bradley’s Neurology in Clinical Practice . 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2012:chap 69. Stippler M. Trauma of the nervous system: craniocerebral trauma. In: Daroff RB, Fenichel GM, Jankovic J. Bradley’s Neurology in Clinical Practice . 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2012:chap 50B. MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC News & Features Review Date: 8/28/2012 Reviewed By: Luc Jasmin, MD, PhD, Department of Neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, and Department of Anatomy at UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc. A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (urac.org). URACs accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (hon.ch). A.D.A.M. Copyright The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2008 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Posted on: Sun, 23 Mar 2014 12:32:53 +0000
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