Sushi Roll Technique. Leak repaired!

Perth Surgery. Nov 2018.

Very brief history.

i herniated a disc at T12 in 2008 playing netball. 6mo later, severe Spontaneous CSF leak. 3mo in hospital, symptoms resolved with 2 x high volume, targeted blood patches at T12. Anterior.

(The herniated disc at T12 had shot out a 3mm piece of disc jelly which lodged onto dura. This calcified & 6mo later pierced thru the dura. )

Was never quite 100%, but very functional.

2014, Low Pressure Symptoms increased, but not as violent. No displaced csf was ever seen on any imaging i had after 2008. Diagnosis impossible.

Apr 2018 Dr Schievink (Cedars-Sinai, LA), repaired a 7mm anterior tear at T12.

Symptom free for a time, but Low Pressure symptoms gradually increased.

Aug 2018 Dr Scott Davies (Perth, Australia), injected Fibrin Glue patch at T12 anterior & it sealed me but only for short time.

Nov 2018 Dr Scott Davies performed left, then right sided DSM’s to rule out any other leak possibilities.

Nov 2018 Dr Arul Bala (Perth), operated at T12 anterior & found no hole but the external dura under my rip site was so weakened from all that csf leaking onto it for those years it turned into tea bag type tissue (for just over an inch) My dura was also stuck to the herniated disc. ( so, every movement i was making, especially turning or twisting, was causing csf to seep out - again not ever captured on any imagine)

Dr Bala separated the dura from disc. Shaved the disc down a bit.

He used 3 x 2inch sheets of Duragan to wrap around my spinal column (sushi style). 360 degrees.

Duragan is collagen (from pigs i think 🐷), this is a forever product.

Dr Bala hasn’t used this (sushi) technique before, but said they’ve had a lot of success with it in LA.

After brutal post op RHP, it’s beautiful to say all Low and/or High pressure symptoms have disappeared. Its like a light was switched on.

I know i have a significant amount of rehab to come to build up my body & brain again, but to be not leaking finally is indeed a happy ending 😉