Written by 
News that actor Saif Ali Khan was stabbed at his Bandra home during an attempted burglary has left many shocked.
The incident reportedly occurred around 2.30 am.
Khan, who was awoken by suspicious sounds, is said to have been stabbed repeatedly after confronting the assailant.
He was brought to Lilavati hospital and is now thought to have out of danger after undergoing surgery.
Doctors said that Khan was stabbed six times and that he was leaking spinal fluid.
He is currently in the Intensive Care Unit.
But what is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)? Why is it so important?
Let’s take a closer look:
What is it? Why is it important?
As per The Conversation, CSF is a clear, colourless liquid.
It comprises water, proteins, sugar, ions and neurotransmitters.
It is mainly produced by the choroid plexus – a network of cells that are in the brain’s cavities.
According to Cleveland Clinic, a layer of CSF surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
Not only does it form a protective coating around the brain and spinal cord, it also has nutrients that nourish the brain.
CSF also guards your brain and spinal cord against sudden movements.
Though the choroid plexus produces around 500 milliliters of CSF daily, just 150 milliliters remain within central nervous system at any given time.
This is because the fluid keeps circulating from the brain to the spinal cord and the space around the brain and spinal cord.
It also helps the brain by reducing its weight – thus avoiding it being crushed under its own mass.
It also helps the central nervous system remove metabolic waste and circulate of nutrients and hormones.
What causes CSF leaks?
As per Cleveland Clinic, 90 per cent of CSF leaks occur due to injuries.
These can include
-
Injuries to your face, head, neck or spine.
-
Car crashes that injure the nose, sinuses, ears, temples or the base of the skull
-
Whiplash injuries to the spinal cord
-
Puncture wounds, stab wounds and gunshot wounds
-
Injuries from brain surgery.
-
Injuries from ear, nose and throat medical procedures.
-
Injuries from medical procedures on or near the spine.
However, 10 per cent of CSF leaks can spontaneously occur – usually in people over the age of 30.
Women are also far more likely to have spontaneous CSF leaks.
According to The Conversation, most people with CFS leaks have a headache – which gets better with lying down and gets worse when standing.
Pain also occurs in the back of the head, in the neck and between shoulder blades.
Patients may also face ringing in the ears, issues with their vision and memory, brain fog, dizziness and nausea.
What about in Khan’s case?
As per India Today, Khan was rushed to the hospital with a knife lodged in his spine.
Neurosurgeon Dr Nitin Dange, who led the surgical team, the outlet_,_ “Saif Ali Khan sustained a major injury in his thoracic spine due to a lodged knife. We performed surgery to remove the knife and repair the leaking spinal fluid.”
“This leak is dangerous because there is a risk of infection spreading to both the spinal cord and brain, a condition known as meningitis, which can be life-threatening,” Dr Jayesh Sardhara, senior consultant, neuro and spine surgery at Fortis Hospital, Mulund & Kalyan told News18.
“Besides meningitis, CSF leak can also result in arachnoiditis, which can lead to headaches, seizures, and in some cases paralysis.”
However, Khan’s doctors remain confident that the procedure went off smoothly.
Dr Niraj Uttamani, another member of the medical team, told India Today, “Perhaps in a day or two, he will be moved to the ward. The injuries were deep, but our team has managed the situation well.”
Doctors told News18 that a patient’s recovery depends on the extent of the surgical intervention.
They recommend that physical activity be restricted for two to four weeks to avoid re-injury.
They say normal activities can be slowly resumed over several weeks.
Most patients, if given the proper treatment, can make a complete recovery.
With inputs from agencies