From July 1996 to August 1999, 109 patients had decompression of the spine, of which, 6 (5.5 percent) sustained dural tear during the operation. We retraced the 6 cases, and examined the method of the prevention and management against dural tears. The cause of dural tear was sevare adhesion to the dura in 3 cases, unskilled drilling of the airtorm in 2 cases, and careless operation during releae of the dura. One patient who had posterior-operation of the cervical spine had postoperative cerebrospinal fluid fistula, but he did not need reoperation for treatment of the dural tear, the outcome was satisfactory. Careful attention is requined to preven the occurrence of dural tear, and if it actually occurs appropriate measures must be taken.
