ObjectiveTo evaluate the risk factors for incidental durotomy (ID) during lumbar surgery. MethodsEighty-six patients with ID and 86 patients with no ID (who were matched 1∶1 in surgeons and surgery time) were selected from 2 235 patients who underwent lumbar surgery between January 2010 and December 2012. The gender, age, body mass index, history of smoking, alcoholism, nonsteroidal drug use, the etiology, lumbar surgery history, revision surgery, surgical approach, osteoporosis, diabetes, and surgical procedure were compared between 2 groups. Logistic regression analysis was applied to analyze the risk factors for ID. ResultsThere was significant difference (P<0.05) in etiology, surgical approach, revision surgery, lumbar surgery history, and surgical procedure between patients with ID and patients with no ID, which were then included in multivariate analysis. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that lumbar surgery history, revision surgery, and minimal invasive surgery were risk factors for ID during lumbar surgery (P<0.05). ConclusionLumbar surgery history, revision surgery, and minimal invasive surgery were risk factors for ID during lumbar surgery, thus surgery for patients with the above histories should be carefully performed to prevent ID.