A comparison of the effectiveness of mitomycin C and 5-fluorouracil in the prevention of peridural adhesion after laminectomy.
OBJECTIVE
The effectiveness of the topical application of mitomycin C (MMC) or 5-fluorouracil (5FU) in preventing peridural adhesion after laminectomy was compared in this study.


METHODS
Laminectomies were performed at L-1 in 30 rats. Cotton pads soaked with 0.1 mg/ml MMC, 25 mg/ml 5FU, or 9 mg/ml saline (control) were applied to the operative sites. To evaluate neurological deficits pre- and postoperatively, somatosensory evoked potentials were monitored and the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan locomotion test was performed. Four weeks postlaminectomy the rats were killed, and peridural scar adhesion was evaluated histologically. The level of hydroxyproline, the area of peridural scar tissue, and the number of fibroblasts were determined. The degree of peridural adhesion was classified according to the Rydell standard.


RESULTS
No obvious adhesion formed in the rats in the MMC group, but severe peridural adhesions were found in those in the 5FU and control groups. The content of hydroxyproline, the area of peridural scar tissue, and the number of fibroblasts in the MMC group were significantly lower than those in the 5FU and control groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The topical application of MMC rather than 5FU may be a successful method of preventing postlaminectomy peridural adhesions.
Sun
Yu
Y
Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China.
Wang
Li-Xin
LX
Wang
Lei
L
Sun
Si-Xin
SX
Cao
Xiao-Jian
XJ
Wang
Peng
P
Feng
Li
L
D000818:Animals; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004388:Dura Mater; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D016685:Mitomycin; D005472:Fluorouracil