Location
- Extradural collections are most often encountered in the lower thoracic spine, sited dorsally
Pathology
- Their presence implies an underlying dural defect and this is most likely to be adjacent to a nerve root.
Surgery
- Indication
- If pain is intolerable
- Myelopathic features are prominent
- Smaller cysts
- Excised
- Larger collections,
- Multiple level laminectomies are impractical.
- A more limited exposure may, instead, permit sealing of the dural defect, if it can be located radiologically preoperatively.
- Shunting into the
- Peritoneum
- Pleural cavity
- The spinal theca