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NCT Number: NCT07614399

Conservative vs Interventional Management of Postsurgical CSF Pseudomeningocele

Dear Sir or Madam,

You have been invited to participate in a clinical study whose aim is to compare the effectiveness of two different approaches to the treatment of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pseudomeningocele - conservative management and interventional treatment (surgical or drainage procedures). CSF pseudomeningocele is a complication that may occur after brain surgery and is characterized by an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid beneath the skin. At present, there is no clear consensus regarding the optimal treatment approach.

How the study will be conducted

After enrollment in the study, you will be randomly assigned (by chance) to one of two groups:

Conservative management: no surgical intervention, regular follow-up, and wound care.

Interventional treatment: simple aspiration/puncture, insertion of a lumbar drain, or reoperation.

During the study, you will be followed for a period of 1 year. Follow-up examinations will include clinical assessment and brain imaging (CT or MRI) at 4 months and 12 months after enrollment.

Risks associated with the interventional group Simple cyst aspiration/puncture: infection, bleeding into the pseudomeningocele.

Lumbar drainage: infection, meningitis, bleeding at the insertion site, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, nerve root irritation, headaches.

Reoperation: bleeding, infection, complications related to general anesthesia. Expected duration of participation in the study

12 months

Expected total number of participants enrolled in the study

20 participants

Benefit of the study

The aim of the study is to compare the effect of surgical intervention with conservative management.

Compensation for participation

Participation in this study is not associated with any financial compensation.

Recruiting

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Age range

18 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Military University Hospital Prague

Prague, 16000, Czechia

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Martin Majovsky, MD, Ass. Prof., PhD, FEBNS

CONTACT

[email protected]

+420973202963

Norbert Svoboda, MD, PhD, FEBNS

CONTACT

[email protected]

++420973202932

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Pseudomeningocele after elective intracranial surgery
  • Willing and able to give informed consent
  • No prior cranial or spinal surgical intervention
  • Pseudomeningocele Palpation Scale (PPS) II-IV, no severe pain of the PMC (VAS 7-10) - Tension MK

Exclusion criteria

  • PMC following emergency or trauma surgery
  • Known or suspected infection at the PMC site at recruitment
  • Severe comorbidities preventing participation (e.g. terminal illness, organ failure)
  • Conditions requiring urgent unrelated surgical intervention

Treatment and study plan

Lumbar Drainage

Procedure

Insertion of Lumbar drain

Pseudomeningocele Puncture

Procedure

aspiration of the CSF fluid with injection

Puncture with Fibrin Glue Application

Procedure

after aspiration of the CSF a fibrin glue is injected into the pseudomeningocele

Revision

Procedure

Revision surgery in order to prevent future pseudomeninogocele formation

Primary outcomes

  1. CSF Leakage or Tension pseudomeningocoele

    Time frame: 12 months

    New-onset wound CSF leakage requiring revision surgery, or pseudomeningocele associated with severe headaches not responsive to analgesics.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Infection

    Time frame: 12 months

    To compare the infection rate between the two treatment groups.

  2. Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE)

    Time frame: 12 months

    To assess functional recovery using the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOSE) at 1 year post-surgery.

  3. Absorption of the Pseudomeningocoele

    Time frame: 12 months

    Absorption of pseudomendingocoele at 4 months and 1 year post-surgery assessed by CT or MRI

  4. Pain

    Time frame: 12 months

    Persistence of headache after the surgery - Pain Scale 0-10 (VAS)

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Norbert Svoboda, MD, PhD, FEBNS

CONTACT

[email protected]

++420973202932

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Charles University, Czech Republic

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Conservative Versus Interventional Management of Postsurgical CSF Pseudomeningocele: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: PSEUDO

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2029
Study completion
2030
First posted
May 29, 2026
Registry last updated
May 29, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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