Prevention of spinal epidural fibrosis by recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in rats.
METHODS
A randomized-controlled experimental study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) on postlaminectomy epidural fibrosis in rats.


METHODS
Diyarbakir, Turkey.


METHODS
In a rat model, allowing objective histopathological quantification, the postoperative epidural scar formation was investigated and the potential of local rt-PA in preventing the production of epidural fibrosis was assessed. Rats were randomly allocated to local rt-PA (12 rats) or control (12 rats).


RESULTS
Findings suggest a beneficial effect of rt-PA in decreasing the epidural fibrosis following laminectomy when compared with control groups for all investigated parameters such as intermuscular scar (P=0.04), middle scar (P=0.001), deep scar (P=0.001) and dural adhesion (P=0.01) except new bone formation. The presence of arachnoiditis was less in treatment group (P=0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
In rats, the topical thrombolysis with rt-PA is safe and efficacious in preventing postlaminectomy epidural fibrosis. This Thrombolytic therapy with rt-PA after spine surgery may come to play an important role in the prevention of epidural fibrosis and arachnoiditis.
Kemaloglu
S
S
Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
Ozkan
U
U
Yilmaz
F
F
Nas
K
K
Gur
A
A
Acemoglu
H
H
Karasu
H
H
Cakmak
E
E
D000818:Animals; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005355:Fibrosis; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator