title: Influence of TachoComb in comparison to local hemostyptic agents on epidural fibrosis in a rat laminectomy model.
abstract: This animal experimental study was designed to examine the effects of TachoComb, a fixed combination of collagen with tissue adhesive, as an interposition membrane on the development of spinal epidural fibrosis in comparison to other hemostyptic materials. In 10 Wistar rats, four laminectomies were performed at lumbar and sacral vertebrae. Alternately, a piece of TachoComb, Spongostan, or Tabotamp was placed into each laminectomy site. One laminectomy site served as an empty control (n = 10). 8 weeks later, the animals were sacrificed, and the spinal column including surrounding muscle tissue was removed en bloc from each rat and fixed in formaldehyde. After decalcification and staining the specimens were graded by a neuropathologist in a blindfold test for severity of epidural fibrosis as "light-moderate" or "marked". Epidural scarring of variable density was seen in all laminectomy sites. Light epidural fibrosis, without any adhesion to dura, as only noted in cases after application of TachoComb (n = 4/10) and Spongostan (n = 1/10). All other slices showed marked epidural fibrosis with dura adherence regardless of the implanted material. Statistical analysis revealed significantly lower epidural fibrosis after application of TachoComb compared to all other groups (p < 0.05). In this series, TachoComb is more effective in reducing the epidural fibrosis than Spongostan, and Tabotamp. However, complete prevention of scar tissue formation was not achieved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: J-Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ebel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friese
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schillinger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Klug
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007611:Aprotinin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D005339:Fibrin Foam / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013917:Thrombin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D005339:Fibrin Foam; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; C093991:tachocomb; D005340:Fibrinogen; D007611:Aprotinin; D013917:Thrombin