Use of Zipper Ratcheting Straps as a Bailout for Postoperative Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks: Our Experience

Abstract

Study Design:

Technical note.

Objectives:

Management of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks is a challenge. Reexploration increases the morbidity risks. The main objective was to evaluate the outcomes of noninvasive zipper-like system (Zip surgical skin closure system, ZipLine Medical, Inc, Campbell, CA, USA) as a bailout technique for postoperative CSF leaks.

Methods:

Retrospective case series. Consecutive patients with postoperative CSF leaks that occurred secondary to spinal surgeries performed between January 2017 and September 2018 were part of the study. All these patients were managed conservatively by reinforcement with zipper ratcheting straps over the sutured surgical wound. Successful clinical outcomes included cessation of CSF leaks and adequate wound healing in the postoperative period and at follow-up.

Results:

Ten patients underwent the application of zipper ratcheting straps. The mean follow-up was 6 months (range 6 months to 1 year). In 7 cases, the dural tears were recognized postoperatively and in 3 cases, the tears were noted intraoperatively and repaired and reinforced with fibrin sealants. None of the patients developed wound soakage or subsequent CSF leak from the wound after the application of zipper ratcheting straps.

Conclusions:

Zipper ratcheting straps as augmentation to sewing of the wound seem to be a good alternative and bailout in treating patients with postoperative CSF leaks. The ease of its application, the ability in minimizing the complications associated with CSF leaks, and negating the need of surgical reexploration makes it a worthy option.

Introduction

The possible sequelae of unintended durotomy include the formation of a pseudomeningocele, a cerebrospinal fluid cutaneous fistula, arachnoiditis, meningitis, and deterioration in neurological status. ^{1 –4} A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak also predisposes the patient to poor wound healing and possible wound dehiscence. ^5,6 Incidental tear of the dural sac and CSF leak is generally recognized intraoperatively, but occult tears that present in a delayed manner are not uncommon. ⁷ Management of CSF leaks that present postoperatively in spite of a well-attempted closure and reinforcement intraoperatively or the ones secondary to occult tears that go unrecognized intraoperatively still remains a challenge in view of limited options.

The purpose of this article is to present our experience using zipper ratcheting straps (Zip surgical skin closure system, ZipLine Medical, Inc, Campbell, CA, USA) in the management of dural tears that persisted to leak postoperatively in spite of intraoperative recognition and repair as well as occult tears that started leaking in a delayed manner postoperatively.

Materials and Methods

This is a retrospective case series of consecutive patients with occult dural tears and postoperative CSF leaks that occurred secondary to spinal surgeries performed between January 2017 and September 2018 were part of the study. All these patients were managed conservatively by reinforcement with adhesive zipper ratcheting straps (Zip surgical skin closure system) dressing over the sutured surgical wound. Approval from institutional review board was obtained and written informed consent taken from patients for publication of images.

Technique and Protocol

Once the CSF leak is recognized in the postoperative period, the zip ratcheting strap dressing is applied on the primarily sutured surgical wound. It consists of 2 strips composed of a combination of hydrocolloid and acrylic adhesive, with each strip placed on either side of surgical incision (Figure 1). Once the adhesive strips are applied, the surgeon then approximates each side of the incision by pulling on a series of adjustable polyurethane ratcheting skirts that lock into position to maintain tension. As the surgeon proceeds to approximate the incision the effect is similar to closing a zipper. After application the surgical incision remains visible for wound monitoring.

Figure 1.

Appearance of the surgical wound after the application and approximation of zip dressing.

Zipper ratcheting strap dressing was kept for 2 weeks and wound inspection was done on the 7th and 14th day postapplication. Patient was kept on restricted mobility for 1 week. Figure 2 shows completely healed surgical wound after 2 weeks.

Figure 2.

Completely healed surgical wound at the end of 2 weeks.

Results

Ten patients underwent the application of zipper ratcheting straps. The mean age of patients was 55.10 years (range 15-76 years). Mean duration of surgery was 155 minutes (range 120-250 minutes), mean blood loss was 110 mL (range 50-500 mL) and mean drain volume was 210 mL (range 100-1100 mL). The mean follow-up was 6 months (range 6 months to 1 year). The distribution of leaks was 8 in primary and 2 in revision cases (Table 1). In 7 cases, the dural tears were recognized postoperatively, in 3 cases the tears were noted intraoperatively and repaired and reinforced with fibrin sealants (Table 1). All these patients were managed by reinforcement with ratcheting straps over the sutured surgical wound. None of our patients developed wound soakage or subsequent discharge from the wound after the application of zip system. MRI images of a patient at 8-month follow-up (Figures 3 –5).

Table 1.

Demographics and Descriptive Characteristics of Study Cohort.

Patient No.	Age (Years)	Sex	Diagnosis	Surgical Procedure	Tear Noted
1	68	Male	L4-L5, L5-S1 LCS	Micro lumbar decompression	Postoperatively
2	65	Female	L3-L4, L4-L5 LCS with degenerative lumbar scoliosis	Decompression and fusion from L2-L5, L2-L3 PLF, TLIF at L3-L4, L4-L5	Postoperatively
3	48	Female	L5-S1 lytic spondylolisthesis	L5-S1 TLIF with instrumentation	Postoperatively
4	43	Male	L4-L5 central HNP with stenosis	Microdiscectomy	Postoperatively
5	63	Female	L4-L5 LCS, L5-S1 iatrogenic spondylolisthesis	L4-L5 decompression and PLF, L5-S1 TLIF and fusion from L4-S1	Postoperatively
6	60	Male	L5-S1 severe LCS	Micro lumbar decompression	Postoperatively
7	76	Male	L4-L5 recurrent HNP with instability with L5-S1 spondylolisthesis	L4-L5 TLIF, L5-S1 PLF and fusion from L4-S1	Intraoperatively
8	16	Female	L1 hemivertebrae with thoracolumbar scoliosis	Deformity correction and fusion	Intraoperatively
9	59	Male	L4-L5 LCS, L5-S1 spondylolisthesis	L4-L5 decompression and PLF, L5-S1 TLIF, fusion from L4-S1	Postoperatively
10	53	Male	L3-L4, L4-L5 LCS	Micro lumbar decompression	Intraoperatively

Abbreviations: LCS, lumbar canal stenosis; HNP, herniated nucleus pulposus; TLIF, transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion; PLF, posterolateral fusion.

Figure 3.

Mid-sagittal magnetic resonance image of patient at 8-month follow-up.

Figure 4.

Axial magnetic resonance image of same patient at L4-L5 level.

Figure 5.

Axial magnetic resonance image of same patient at L5-S1 level.

Discussion

Incidental durotomy is a relatively common complication of spinal surgeries with a reported incidence ranging from 3% to 17%, with many patients requiring repeat operation/s and extended time off from work. ^{3,8 –12} Reported risk factors for incurring a durotomy include older age, anatomic variation, thinning of dura due to chronic stenosis, relative inexperience of the surgeon, and revision surgery. ^11,13,14 CSF leaks can cause devastating complications such as CSF-cutaneous fistula, arachnoiditis, meningitis, and deterioration in neurological status with short- and long-term clinical sequalae. ^{1 –4}

Once CSF leak has been noticed intraoperatively, several methods have been used to repair dural tears, such as suturing the defect, application of fibrin glue, muscle and fat grafts, diversion drains, and bed rest. ^{15 –18} Management of persistent CSF leaks or leaks recognized postoperatively is challenging and is associated with increased morbidity and high costs. ¹⁹ With the intention of reducing the potential morbidity associated with treatment of a postoperative CSF leak/fistula with reexploration and its attendant risks, other approaches currently in clinical use in the treatment of established CSF leakage include lumbar drain placement, the resuturing of skin, and image-guided placement of dural patches made of various materials (eg, fibrin, fat, or blood). ^{20 –22}

One such attempt in this direction of conservative management of patients with dural tears without neurological compromise is the use of zipper ratcheting straps. This zip dressing has been successfully used for skin closure in patients undergoing cardiac surgeries and knee arthroplasties. ^23,24 Zipper ratcheting strap (Zip surgical skin closure system) is a noninvasive, adjustable, coaptive, tape-based skin closure device (Figure 6). It is a sterile, hydrocolloid-based skin closure system designed to approximate skin edges and to maintain it during wound healing. The system consists of adjustable ratcheting straps with a force distribution system that maintain consistent tension along the incision edges. The ratcheting straps are adjusted in such a way that the wound is approximated with significant tension and this can be appreciated by overhanging of skin flaps. Another advantage of this device is the ability to adjust its length and tension. The length of the device can be easily adjusted by cutting the device at the appropriate point without the loss of tension. The tension of the device can be adjusted without limit because of the adapting strap-rock system. The tension of the device can be adjusted multiple times by pulling the straps according to the status of wound healing. In cases with postoperative leaks, the skin closure is reinforced with augmentation of the zip ratcheting strap system. The tension created across the line of the incision obliterates the dead space and creates a tamponade effect and discourages CSF collection by changing the pressure gradient. In none of the cases that we used the zip dressing did we encounter persistence of CSF leaks from the wound after initial application and appropriate tensioning of the zip surgical skin closure system. The application of the zip adhesive dressing was performed in the out-patient clinic in those situations when the CSF leaks were recognized after the patient was discharged. In situations where the leaks were identified immediately postoperatively during the admission, the adhesive was applied bedside and the patients were discharged in a day or two. The patients were given instructions and warned to revert immediately in case of any leak or headache. Since the procedure of application and removal of dressing could be done without taking the patient inside the operating rooms, the costs incurred were limited to the expenditures of the adhesive (Figure 7). The zipper adhesive dressing is relatively inexpensive and is charged by length. The authors recommend the usage of zip dressing to bail out of postoperative CSF leaks with the added advantage of simplicity in application and reasonable costs.

Figure 6.

Photo of the zipper dressing with adhesive strips on either side with adjustable ratcheting straps.

Figure 7.

Clinical photograph showing the ease of removal of zip dressing in an outpatient clinic.

Limitations of the Study

Retrospective case series with lack of control group is a major limitation of this study. Postoperative restricted mobility was followed on empirical basis because of lack of previous experience, maybe with more experience we can mobilize the patient early.

Conclusion

Use of zipper ratcheting straps as augmentation to sewing of the wound seems to be a good alternative and bailout in treating patients with postoperative CSF leaks and thus prevent complications like pseudomeningocele, CSF fistula and delayed wound healing. The superiority of this technique in reducing incidental durotomy related complications needs to be further elaborated in multicenter randomized controlled trials.