title: A comparison of the effectiveness of waxed paper and Gore-Tex on the minimally invasive epidural fibrosis model.
abstract: METHODS
  Experimental animal study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The authors conducted a study to determine the effectiveness of waxed paper in preventing postlaminectomy epidural fibrosis in rats.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Extensive epidural fibrosis after lumbar surgery may be the underlying cause in most cases of failed back surgery syndrome. Various materials have been used to prevent epidural fibrosis, but only moderate success has been shown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laminectomies were performed at the fourth lumbar vertebra (L-4) in 30 rats. Waxed paper or Gore-Tex was applied in a blinded fashion to the operative sites. In the control group, only the L-4 laminectomy was performed. The rats were killed 28 days after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The extent of epidural fibrosis was evaluated by histologic analysis. There was a meaningful statistical difference among the waxed paper group and the Gore-Tex group compared with the control group, but there was no difference when the effectiveness of waxed paper was compared with that of Gore-Tex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this experimental model, the waxed paper applied locally effectively reduced epidural fibrosis, completely avoided dural adherence, and induced no side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gokhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kurt
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.forename: Berker
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cemil
authors.forename: Fikret
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Doğulu
authors.forename: Mustafa Kemali
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Baykaner
authors.forename: Necdet
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ceviker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014885:Waxes
chemical_list: D014885:Waxes; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene