Application of cervical epidural blood patch for spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leaks: Two case reports.

Authors

Sebnem Rumeli, Mesut Bakır, Guldane Turhan, Mehmet Ertargın, Mehmet Ridvan Yalin

Published in

Agri : Agri (Algoloji) Dernegi'nin Yayin organidir = The journal of the Turkish Society of Algology. Volume 38. Issue 4. Pages 298-301. Oct 01, 2026. Epub Sep 25, 2026.

Abstract

Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are uncommon but significant causes of orthostatic headaches, often resulting from dural injuries. Although lumbar epidural blood patches (EBPs) are commonly used to treat such leaks, cervical EBPs are rarely performed due to the higher risk of complications, including spinal cord injury. This case series presents two patients with spontaneous cervical CSF leaks successfully treated with cervical EBPs under fluoroscopic guidance. The first case involved a 24-year-old female who presented with a two-month history of severe orthostatic headaches and tinnitus and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score of 8. After a cervical EBP with 3 mL of autologous blood, her symptoms resolved. The second case describes a 55-year-old male with a history of radiotherapy who presented with a VAS score of 10 and a four-month history of orthostatic headaches. A cervical EBP using a total of 6 mL of blood led to complete symptom resolution. Both cases highlight the efficacy and safety of cervical EBPs when performed with careful imaging guidance and minimal blood volumes. These findings suggest that this approach should be considered in cases of refractory cervical CSF leaks.

PMID:
42900640
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 21 Oct 2026.

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