Seprafilm superior to Gore-Tex in the prevention of peridural fibrosis.
OBJECTIVE
This is an investigation into the effects of two barrier membranes in the prevention of peridural fibrosis in an animal model.


METHODS
Seprafilm or Gore-Tex was applied to a laminectomy defect overlying the dura mater in rats separated into treatment groups. A third group of rats underwent laminectomy only and served as controls. Two months postoperatively a histological study was performed to compare the amount of scar tissue in each group. The gross dissection demonstrated that both membranes created a controlled dissection plane, facilitated access to the epidural space, and provided a reduction in the amount of tissue adhering to the dura mater. Statistically, Seprafilm was superior to Gore-Tex in preventing peridural fibrosis (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Seprafilm can prevent peridural fibrosis better than Gore-Tex and can be used in humans in spinal surgery.
Department of Neurosurgery, Firat University, School of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey. cdtopsakal@yahoo.com
Cahide
C
Topsakal
Nusret
N
Akpolat
Fatih Serhat
FS
Erol
Mehmet Faik
MF
Ozveren
Ismail
I
Akdemir
Metin
M
Kaplan
Murat
M
Tiftikci
Nermin
N
Kilic
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000473:pathology*; D004824:Epidural Space; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C118198:Seprafilm; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid