Abstract

A 24-year-old woman experienced a postdural puncture headache following a labor epidural, recovered following bedrest, and was then without headache for 12years. She then experienced sudden onset of daily, holocephalic headache persisting for 6years prior to presentation. Pain reduced with prolonged recumbency. MRI brain, MRI myelography, and later bilateral decubitus digital subtraction myelography showed no cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak or CSF venous fistula, and normal opening pressure. Review of an initial noncontrast MRI myelogram revealed a subcentimeter dural outpouching at L3-L4, suspicious for a posttraumatic arachnoid bleb. Targeted epidural fibrin patch at the bleb resulted in profound but temporary symptom relief, and the patient was offered surgical repair. Intraoperatively, an arachnoid bleb was discovered and repaired followed by remission of headache. We report that a distant dural puncture can play a causative role in the long delayed onset of new daily persistent headache.

View details for DOI 10.1111/head.14584

View details for PubMedID 37358488