[The effect of chitosan in prevention of fibrous scar tissue formation after laminectomy].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of chitosan in the prevention of fibrous scar formation in the epidural space after laminectomy.


METHODS
Fourty-eight SD rats were used as the animal model. Laminectomy was performed in lumber 1, and the exposed dura was covered with hyaluronate (group A), free fat (group B), chitosan (group C), and saline solution (group D) respectively. At 4, 8 and 12 weeks postoperation, scar formation was observed.


RESULTS
The results revealed that scar formed in the group D at the fourth week reached a peak at the eighth week and began to soften and constrict at the twelfth week. Sodium hyaluronate and chitosan had a significant efficacy in the prevention of scar formation, but the effect of chitosan was superior to that of sodium hyaluronate.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study indicate that chitosan has a preventive effect on scar tissue formation.
Wang
Q
Q
Department of Orthopaedics, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433.
Xiang
Y
Y
Hou
C
C
Wu
Y
Y
Yang
X
X
Gu
X
X
Xu
W
W
Kang
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D048271:Chitosan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004824:Epidural Space; D005223:Fats / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control
D005223:Fats; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D048271:Chitosan