What are CSF Leaks?
The brain and spinal cord are surrounded by a clear liquid called cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). Enclosing the brain, spinal cord and CSF is a tough, fibrous membrane called the dura mater. At the end of surgery, the dura is sutured closed, in an attempt to make it watertight and to prevent CSF from leaking. The leakage of CSF can create a potential pathway for infection inside the brain and spinal cord.