Aim: To report on the outcomes of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (sDAVFs) treatment in a single-center retrospective cohort.
Methods: Data were retrieved on sDAVF cases treated surgically and endovascularly between January 2009 and January 2020. Sociodemographic, clinical, imaging data, and outcomes were analyzed.
Results: Thirty-four patients were identified: 11 female, mean age 64.1 ± 11.5 years; mean time of symptom duration 12 (range 1-149) months. The sDAVF locations were the following: 18 (62.1%) thoracic, 4 (13.8%) lumbar, 4 (13.8%) sacral, and 3 (10%) with multiple location feeders. All patients had a motor deficit and affected walking, and the majority had a sensory deficit, bowel, and bladder dysfunction. Fifteen (44.1%) patients underwent surgical treatment, 7 (20.6%) underwent endovascular treatment, and 12 (35.3%) underwent both (crossover). Radiological myelopathy showed regression in 19 (55.9%) patients. Overall, clinical improvement (decrease in modified Rankin score) following treatment was observed in 14 patients (41.2%), worsening in 1 (2.9%), while other had unchanged status. The proportion of patients with initial treatment failure markedly differed between the before-2014 and after-2014 period. Patients who failed to improve had more extensive myelopathy.
Conclusion: Patients who underwent surgery or endovascular treatment had on average significant clinical recovery, while those who underwent treatment crossover had negligible improvement. The extent of myelopathy seems to be associated with clinical improvement.