Staged Resection of Difficult-to-Treat Intracranial Meningiomas: A Systematic Review of the Indications, Surgical Approaches, and Postoperative Outcomes.

Introduction Meningiomas-the most common extra-axial tumors-are benign, slow-growing dural-based lesions that can involve multiple cranial fossae and can progress insidiously for years until coming to clinical attention secondary to compression of adjacent neurovascular structures. For complex, multicompartmental lesions, multistaged surgeries have been increasingly shown to enhance maximal safe resection while minimizing adverse sequela. Here, we systematically review the extant literature to highlight the merits of staged resection. Methods PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were queried to identify articles reporting resections of intracranial meningiomas using a multistaged approach, and articles were screened for possible inclusion in a systematic process performed by two authors. Results Of 118 identified studies, 36 describing 169 patients (mean age 42.6 ± 21.3 years) met inclusion/exclusion criteria. Petroclival lesions comprised 57% of cases, with the most common indications for a multistaged approach being large size, close approximation of critical neurovascular structures, minimization of brain retraction, identification and ligation of deep vessels feeding the tumor, and resection of residual tumor found on postoperative imaging. Most second-stage surgeries occurred within 3 months of the index surgery. Few complications were reported and multistaged resections appeared to be well tolerated overall. Conclusions Current literature suggests multistaged approaches for meningioma resection are well-tolerated. However, there is insufficient comparative evidence to draw definitive conclusions about its advantages over an unstaged approach. There are similarly insufficient data to generate an evidence-based decision-making framework for when a staged approach should be employed. This highlights the need for collaborative efforts among skull base surgeons to establish an evidentiary to support the use of staged approaches and to outline those indications that merit such an approach.

Epigenetic reprogramming shapes the cellular landscape of schwannoma.

Mechanisms specifying cancer cell states and response to therapy are incompletely understood. Here we show epigenetic reprogramming shapes the cellular landscape of schwannomas, the most common tumors of the peripheral nervous system. We find schwannomas are comprised of 2 molecular groups that are distinguished by activation of neural crest or nerve injury pathways that specify tumor cell states and the architecture of the tumor immune microenvironment. Moreover, we find radiotherapy is sufficient for interconversion of neural crest schwannomas to immune-enriched schwannomas through epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming. To define mechanisms underlying schwannoma groups, we develop a technique for simultaneous interrogation of chromatin accessibility and gene expression coupled with genetic and therapeutic perturbations in single-nuclei. Our results elucidate a framework for understanding epigenetic drivers of tumor evolution and establish a paradigm of epigenetic and metabolic reprograming of cancer cells that shapes the immune microenvironment in response to radiotherapy.

Trends in Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Use for Neurointerventional Procedures for the Management of Intracranial Aneurysms.

The use of periprocedural dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) has significantly evolved along with innovations in the endovascular management of intracranial aneurysms. Historically, aspirin and clopidogrel have been the most commonly employed regimen due to its safety and efficacy. However, recent studies highlight the importance of tailoring DAPT regimens to individual patient characteristics which may affect clopidogrel metabolism, such as genetic polymorphisms. In the present report, a systematic review of the literature was performed to determine optimal antiplatelet use with flow diverting stents, intracranial stents, intrasaccular devices, and stent-assisted coiling. Studies were analyzed for the number of aneurysms treated, DAPT regimen, and any thromboembolic complications. Based on inclusion criteria, 368 studies were selected, which revealed the increasing popularity of alternative DAPT regimens with the aforementioned devices. Thromboembolic or hemorrhagic complications associated with antiplatelet medications were similar across all medications. DAPT with ticagrelor, tirofiban, or prasugrel are effective and safe alternatives to clopidogrel and do not require enzymatic activation. Further clinical trials are needed to evaluate different antiplatelet regimens with various devices to establish highest-level evidence-based guidelines and recommendations.

Characteristics and Outcomes in Pediatric Versus Adult Craniopharyngiomas: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Craniopharyngiomas account for 1.2% to 4.6% of all intracranial tumors. Although age at presentation is distributed bimodally, with a pediatric peak occurring between 5 and 15 years and an adult peak between 50 and 70 years, presentation, treatment, and outcome differences between these two craniopharyngioma populations have not been thoroughly characterized. OBJECTIVE: To compare treatments and outcomes between adult and pediatric craniopharyngiomas. METHODS: This is a systematic review and meta-analysis. Web of Science, MEDLINE, and Scopus databases were searched for primary studies reporting postoperative complications, functional outcomes, recurrence, and overall survival in patients with craniopharyngioma undergoing surgery. RESULTS: The search yielded 1,202 unique articles, of which 106 (n=4,202 patients) met criteria for qualitative synthesis and 23 (n=735 patients) met criteria for meta-analysis. Compared with adult, pediatric craniopharyngiomas were less likely to present with visual defects (odds ratio [OR] 0.54, 95% CI 0.36-0.80) or cognitive impairment (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.12-0.71) and more likely with headaches (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.16-3.73). Children presented with significantly larger tumors compared with adults (standardized mean difference 0.68, 95% CI 0.38-0.97). Comparing functional outcomes, pediatric patients sustained higher rates of permanent diabetes insipidus (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.13-2.56), obesity (OR 3.15, 95% CI 1.19-8.31), and cranial nerve and/or neurological defects (OR 4.87, 95% CI 1.78-13.31) than adults. No significant differences were found in rates of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak, overall or progression-free survival, or recurrence. CONCLUSION: Adult and pediatric craniopharyngiomas seem to have fundamental differences in clinical presentation and functional outcomes. These patients frequently require multimodality treatment and are best managed with a multidisciplinary team and an individualized approach.

Supraorbital Keyhole Craniotomy for Clipping Cerebral Aneurysms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Open cerebrovascular surgery remains an irreplaceable tool in the neurosurgeon's armamentarium for cerebral aneurysms. Among open approaches, the supraorbital keyhole approach provides a novel approach with less soft tissue dissection and cortical exposure compared with the traditional pterional approach. OBJECTIVE: To perform a descriptive synthesis of the literature on cerebral aneurysms approached surgically via the supraorbital keyhole approach. METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, we performed a systematic literature review of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Patient demographic data, aneurysm characteristics, Hunt and Hess score, clipping rate, operative time, postoperative neurologic status, length of stay, and follow-up were extracted. We then performed a meta-analysis to obtain pooled estimates of these metrics across studies, including assessments for cross-study heterogeneity and publication bias. RESULTS: Under a random-effects estimate, mean intraoperative rupture rate was 6.0%. Clipping rate was 99% under a pooled fixed estimate. Significant publication bias was found within studies for aneurysm clipping rate. Forest plot analysis showed an average clinical outcome of 93% of a modified Rankin Scale score from 0 to 2 or Glasgow Outcome Scale score of IV or V at postoperative follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Aneurysm treatment is highly heterogeneous within the literature. The supraorbital keyhole approach is an effective strategy for aneurysm treatment.

Utility of adding electrodes in patients undergoing invasive seizure localization: A case series.

Introduction: Surgery can be an effective treatment for epilepsy if the seizure onset is adequately localized. Invasive monitoring is used if noninvasive methods are inconclusive. Initial invasive monitoring may fail if the pre-surgical hypothesis regarding location of epileptic foci is wrong. At this point, a decision must be made whether to remove all electrodes without a clearly defined location of onset or to implant additional electrodes with the aim of achieving localization by expanding coverage. Methods: Electrodes were placed according to a hypothesis derived from noninvasive monitoring techniques in adult patients with long term epilepsy. Seizure onset was not clearly localized at the end of the invasive monitoring period in ten patients, and additional electrodes were placed based on a new hypothesis that incorporated data from the invasive monitoring period. Results: Successful localization was achieved in nine patients. There were no complications with adding additional electrodes. At final follow up, four patients were seizure free while four others had at least a 50% reduction in seizures after undergoing surgical intervention. Conclusion: Seizure foci were localized safely in 90% of adult patients with long term epilepsy after implanting additional electrodes and expanding coverage. Patients undergoing invasive monitoring without clear localization should have additional electrodes placed to expand monitoring coverage as it is safe and effective.

The 100 Most Highly Cited Publications on Hearing Preservation for Vestibular Schwannomas.

OBJECTIVE: Vestibular schwannomas are benign, slow-growing tumors that often reduce patient quality of life by compressing nearby nerves. Neurological function preservation is one of the indicators of treatment success, with hearing preservation being the most difficult to obtain. This paper provides a bibliometric analysis of hearing preservation in treating acoustic neuromas and a greater understanding of the most highly cited articles, which have enhanced our understanding of this topic. METHODS: Key terms of "acoustic neuroma," "vestibular schwannoma," and "hearing preservation" were queried through Web of Science. Articles were sorted by citation frequency, and the top 100 articles were recorded for title, name of first author, journal title, year of publication, total number of citations (and associated rank), average number of citations per year, country of the first author's associated institution, and type of study. RESULTS: The top 100 cited articles were published from 1980 to 2014. The United States had the highest involvement as a country (55%), the University of Pittsburgh as an institution (13%), and The Journal of Neurosurgery as a publishing source (27%). Fourteen were reviews, and 86 were clinical papers. Of the 86, 73 were retrospective studies. CONCLUSION: Bibliometric analyses summarize and assess potential areas of strength and knowledge gaps within the literature. Studies on hearing preservation in vestibular schwannomas mostly consist of retrospective reviews that assess postoperative outcomes of microsurgery and radiosurgery. Prospective studies and novel treatment options for hearing preservation in vestibular schwannomas are needed to increase current literature diversity.

Supraorbital Keyhole Craniotomy in Pediatric Neurosurgery: A Systematic Review of Clinical Outcomes and Cosmetic Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Supraorbital keyhole craniotomy is a minimally invasive approach used to access the parasellar region with advantages of decreased cortical exposure, simple closure, and decreased risk of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak. The incision of this approach, however, has raised cosmetic concerns, especially for pediatric patients. The aim of this study is to assess postoperative complications and cosmeses of the supraorbital keyhole approach for resection of intracranial lesions in pediatric patients. METHODS: A literature search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases was performed on June 1, 2021, searching for all studies of pediatric patients undergoing supraorbital keyhole craniotomy for surgical resection of lesions in the anterior fossa/sellar region. RESULTS: Of 729 unique hits, 15 supraorbital keyhole studies reporting on 177 pediatric cases were included in the final review. Quality of all included studies was moderate. Overall, the surgery was well tolerated with a low number of severe adverse events. A wide variety of pathologies were treated with this approach. Complications of surgery included changes in vision, epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma, cerebrospinal fluid leak, and wound infection. At 6 weeks of follow-up, surgical scars in most patients were noted to be minimally detectable. At 3-6 months of follow-up, scars were no longer visible. Cosmetic complications included 5 bone defects, 1 split eyebrow, and 1 case of ptosis. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that supraorbital keyhole craniotomy is a safe and effective approach to access the parasellar region in pediatric patients with excellent cosmetic outcomes reported across multiple institutions.

Demographic predictors of treatments and surgical complications of lumbar degenerative diseases: An analysis of over 250,000 patients from the National Inpatient Sample.

ABSTRACT: This was a national database study.To examine the role of comorbidities and demographics on inpatient complications in patients with lumbar degenerative conditions.Degenerative conditions of the lumbar spine account for the most common indication for spine surgery in the elderly population in the United States. Significant studies investigating demographic as predictors of surgical rates and health outcomes for degenerative lumbar conditions are lacking.Data were obtained from the National Inpatient Sample from 2010 to 2014 and International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification codes were used to identify patients with a primary diagnosis of degenerative lumbar condition. Patients were stratified based on demographic variables and comorbidity status. Multivariate regression analyses were used to determine whether any individual demographic variables, such as race, sex, insurance, and hospital status predicted postoperative complications.A total of 256,859 patients were identified for analysis. The rate of overall complications was found to be 16.1% with a mortality rate of 0.10%. Female, Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander patients had lower odds of receiving surgical treatment compared to White patients (P<.001). Medicare and Medicaid patients were less likely to be surgically managed than patients with private insurance (OR = 0.75, 0.37; P<.001, respectively). Urban hospitals were more likely to provide surgery when compared to rural hospitals (P < .001). Patients undergoing fusion had more complications than decompression alone (P < .001). Females, Medicare insurance status, Medicaid insurance status, urban hospital locations, and certain geographical locations were found to predict postoperative complications (P < .001).There were substantial differences in surgical management and postoperative complications among individuals of different sex, races, and insurance status. Further investigation evaluating the effect of demographics in spine surgery is warranted to fully understand their influence on patient complications.

Updates on techniques and technology to optimize external ventricular drain placement: A review of the literature.

External ventricular drainage is a common and invaluable neurosurgical procedure and is one of the first procedures learned and performed independently by neurosurgical residents. As accuracy and precision are paramount to EVD placement, attention to technique is paid early in a resident's training. With the advancement of virtual technology, it has become increasingly possible to move away from traditional training situations and human error, and towards automated assistance and superior cyber learning environments. Although there is significant room for improvement, there are promising results with computerized placement guides and virtually augmented practice. Here, we provide a review of the updates on EVD placement techniques, technology and training, all of which serve to improve the precision, accuracy and efficiency of EVD placement.

Association of tranexamic acid with decreased blood loss in patients undergoing laminectomy and fusion with posterior instrumentation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic agent associated with reduced blood loss and mortality in a wide range of procedures, including spine surgery, traumatic brain injury, and craniosynostosis. Despite this wide use, the safety and efficacy of TXA in spine surgery has been considered controversial due to a relative scarcity of literature and lack of statistical power in reported studies. However, if TXA can be shown to reduce blood loss in laminectomy with fusion and posterior instrumentation, more surgeons may include it in their armamentarium. The authors aimed to conduct an up-to-date systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of TXA in reducing blood loss in laminectomy and fusion with posterior instrumentation. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis, abiding by PRISMA guidelines, was performed by searching the databases of PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane. These platforms were queried for all studies reporting the use of TXA in laminectomy and fusion with posterior instrumentation. Variables retrieved included patient demographics, surgical indications, involved spinal levels, type of laminectomy performed, TXA administration dose, TXA route of administration, operative duration, blood loss, blood transfusion rate, postoperative hemoglobin level, and perioperative complications. Heterogeneity across studies was evaluated using a chi-square test, Cochran's Q test, and I2 test performed with R statistical programming software. RESULTS: A total of 7 articles were included in the qualitative study, while 6 articles featuring 411 patients underwent statistical analysis. The most common route of administration for TXA was intravenous with 15 mg/kg administered preoperatively. After the beginning of surgery, TXA administration patterns were varied among studies. Blood transfusions were increased in non-TXA cohorts compared to TXA cohorts. Patients administered TXA demonstrated a significant reduction in blood loss (mean difference -218.44 mL; 95% CI -379.34 to -57.53; p = 0.018). TXA administration was not associated with statistically significant reductions in operative durations. There were no adverse events reported in either the TXA or non-TXA patient cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: TXA can significantly reduce perioperative blood loss in cervical, thoracic, and lumbar laminectomy and fusion procedures, while demonstrating a minimal complication profile.

Citation analysis of the most influential ependymoma research articles illustrates improved knowledge of the molecular biology of ependymoma.

The history of academic research on ependymoma is expansive. This review summarizes its history with a bibliometric analysis of the 100 most cited articles on ependymoma. In March 2020, we queried the Web of Science database to identify the most cited articles on ependymoma using the terms "ependymoma" or "ependymal tumors," yielding 3145 publications. Results were arranged by the number of times each article was cited in descending order. The top 100 articles spanned across nearly a century; the oldest article was published in 1924, while the most recent was in 2017. These articles were published in 35 unique journals, including a mix of basic science and clinical journals. The three institutions with the most papers in the top 100 were St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (16%), the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (6%), and the German Cancer Research Center (5%). We analyzed the publications that may be considered the most influential in the understanding and treatment management of ependymoma. Studies focused on the molecular classification of ependymomas were well-represented among the most cited articles, reflecting the field's current area of focus and its future directions. Additionally, this article also offers a reference for further studies in the ependymoma field.

Second opinion in spine surgery: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: As a growing number of patients seek consultations for increasingly complex and costly spinal surgery, it is of both clinical and economic value to investigate the role for second opinions (SOs). Here, we summarized and focused on the shortcomings of 14 studies regarding the role and value of SOs before proceeding with spine surgery. METHODS: Utilizing PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus, we identified 14 studies that met the inclusion criteria that included: English, primary articles, and studies published in the past 20 years. RESULTS: We identified the following findings regarding SO for spine surgery: (1) about 40.6% of spine consultations are SO cases; (2) 61.3% of those received a discordant SO; (3) 75% of discordant SOs recommended conservative management; and (4) SO discordance applied to a variety of procedures. CONCLUSION: The 14 studies reviewed regarding SOs in spine surgery showed that half of the SOs differed from those given in the initial consultation and that SOs in spine surgery can have a substantial impact on patient care. Absent are prospective studies investigating the impact of following a first versus second opinion. These studies are needed to inform the potential benefit of universal implementation of SOs before major spine operations to potentially reduce the frequency and type/extent of surgery.

Comparison of Minimally Invasive Total versus Subtotal Resection of Spinal Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: With the advent of minimally invasive techniques, minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) has become a realistic option for many spine cases. This study aims to evaluate the operative and clinical outcomes of MISS for total versus subtotal tumor resection from current evidence. METHODS: A literature search was performed using the search term (Minimally invasive surgery OR MIS) AND (spine tumor OR spinal tumor). Studies including both minimally invasive total and subtotal resection cases with operative or clinical data were included. RESULTS: Seven studies describing 159 spinal tumor cases were included. Compared with total resection, subtotal resection showed no significant differences in surgical time (mean difference (MD), 9.44 minutes; 95% confidence interval [CI], -47.66 to 66.55 minutes; P = 0.37), surgical blood loss (MD, -84.72 mL; 95% CI, -342.82 to 173.39 mL; P = 0.34), length of stay (MD, 1.38 days; 95% CI, -0.95 to 3.71 days; P = 0.17), and complication rate (odds ratio, 9.47; 95% CI, 0.34-263.56; P = 0.12). Pooled analyses with the random-effects model showed that neurologic function improved in 89% of patients undergoing total resection, whereas neurologic function improved in 61% of patients undergoing subtotal resection. CONCLUSIONS: Our analyses show that there is no significant difference in operative outcomes between total and subtotal resection. Patients undergoing total resection showed slightly better improvement in neurologic outcomes compared with patients undergoing subtotal resection. Overall, this study suggests that both total and subtotal resection may result in comparable outcomes for patients with spinal tumors. However, maximal safe resection remains the ideal treatment because it provides the greatest chance of long-term benefit.

Ethical considerations and patient safety concerns for cancelling non-urgent surgeries during the COVID-19 pandemic: a review.

At the time of writing of this article, there have been over 110 million cases and 2.4 million deaths worldwide since the start of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, postponing millions of non-urgent surgeries. Existing literature explores the complexities of rationing medical care. However, implications of non-urgent surgery postponement during the COVID-19 pandemic have not yet been analyzed within the context of the four pillars of medical ethics. The objective of this review is to discuss the ethics of elective surgery cancellation during the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and autonomy. This review hypothesizes that a more equitable decision-making algorithm can be formulated by analyzing the ethical dilemmas of elective surgical care during the pandemic through the lens of these four pillars. This paper's analysis shows that non-urgent surgeries treat conditions that can become urgent if left untreated. Postponement of these surgeries can cause cumulative harm downstream. An improved algorithm can address these issues of beneficence by weighing local pandemic stressors within predictive algorithms to appropriately increase surgeries. Additionally, the potential harms of performing non-urgent surgeries extend beyond the patient. Non-maleficence is maintained through using enhanced screening protocols and modifying surgical techniques to reduce risks to patients and clinicians. This model proposes a system to transfer patients from areas of high to low burden, addressing the challenge of justice by considering facility burden rather than value judgments concerning the nature of a particular surgery, such as cosmetic surgeries. Autonomy can be respected by giving patients the option to cancel or postpone non-urgent surgeries. However, in the context of limited resources in a global pandemic, autonomy is not absolute. Non-urgent surgeries can ethically be postponed in opposition to the patient's preference. The proposed algorithm attempts to uphold the four principles of medical ethics in rationing non-urgent surgical care by building upon existing decision models, using additional measures of resource burden and surgical safety to increase health care access and decrease long-term harm as much as possible. The next global health crisis will undoubtedly present its own unique challenges. This model may serve as a comprehensive starting point in determining future guidelines for non-urgent surgical care.

Surgical management of a rare myxopapillary ependymoma of the gluteal region: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Ependymomas are rare tumors originating from neuroepithelial cells lining the wall of the ventricles or central canal of the spinal cord. While these tumors mainly occur within the central nervous system (CNS), there are occasional reports in children and young adult patients with a primary tumor occurrence outside of the CNS. Ependymomas of the sacrococcygeal region have been infrequently described in the literature with no standard of care established. We present a case report and review of the literature regarding this rare entity. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 24-year-old woman presented with right gluteal pain worsened by sitting and a palpable soft tissue mass of the sacrococcygeal region. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 3.7 cm cystic mass centered in the right gluteal region. She underwent a biopsy at an outside institution, with histology revealing myxopapillary ependymoma. The patient was referred to our hospital and underwent an interdisciplinary neurosurgical and orthopedic oncology en bloc resection of the ependymoma, which intraoperatively appeared to originate from the coccygeal nerve. CONCLUSION: In the present report, the authors demonstrate that a myxopapillary ependymoma may present as an isolated gluteal mass attached to the coccygeal nerve, without frank CNS involvement. Furthermore, an interdisciplinary approach to surgical resection of this lesion appears to represent an effective treatment modality.

Getting Down to the Bare Bones: Does laminoplasty or laminectomy With Fusion Provide Better Outcomes for Patients With Multilevel Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy?

OBJECTIVE: Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a degenerative disorder leading to progressive decline in spinal cord function. Cervical laminoplasty (CLP) and cervical laminectomy with fusion (CLF) are standard treatments for multilevel CSM. However, it is still unclear whether one procedure over the other provides better outcomes. Here, we performed a comprehensive review of published articles that compare the clinical outcomes and costs between CLP and CLF for CSM. METHODS: A literature search was performed using PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases. Strict exclusion criteria were applied, and included articles were then assessed for publication year, study design, and significant differences in outcome variables. RESULTS: From 519 studies identified with search terms, 38 studies were included for the qualitative analysis. Statistically significant differences in the clinical outcomes and costs were found in 18 studies. Eleven studies were prospective or retrospective, and 8 studies were meta-analyses. For the outcome variables of interest, results were reported by classifying into prospective studies, retrospective studies, and meta-analyses. CONCLUSION: CLP and CLF are 2 of the most commonly performed surgical procedures for the treatment of CSM. Although CLP and CLF each provide satisfactory clinical outcomes for patients with CMS, CLP may result in better cervical range of motion and less cost, length of stay, operation time, blood loss, paraspinal muscular atrophy, and rate of nerve palsies as compared to CLF. The major limitation of CLP versus CLF comparison studies includes the heterogeneity in techniques and preoperative criteria. Thus, further validation and investigations in larger cohorts will be required.

Effectiveness of Repair Techniques for Spinal Dural Tears: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Incidental or intentional durotomy in spine surgery is associated with a risk of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage and reoperation. Several strategies have been introduced, but the incomplete closure is still relatively frequent and troublesome. In this study, we review current evidence on spinal dural repair strategies and evaluate their efficacy. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were used to search primary studies about the repair of the spinal dura with different techniques. Of 265 articles found, 11 studies, which specified repair techniques and postoperative outcomes, were included for qualitative and quantitative analysis. The primary outcomes were CSF leakage and postoperative infection. RESULTS: The outcomes of different dural repair techniques were available in 776 cases. Pooled analysis of 11 studies demonstrated that the most commonly used technique was a combination of primary closure, patch or graft, and sealant (22.7%, 176/776). A combination of primary closure and patch or graft resulted in the lowest rate of CSF leakage (5.5%, 7/128). In this study, sealants as an adjunct to primary closure (13.7%, 18/131) did not significantly reduce the rate of CSF leakage compared with primary closure alone (17.6%, 18/102). The rates of infection and postoperative neurologic deficit were similar regardless of the repair techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Although the use of sealants has become prevalent, available sealants as an adjunct to primary closure did not reduce the rate of CSF leakage compared with primary closure. The combination of primary closure and patches or grafts could be effective in decreasing postoperative CSF leakage.