The role of FloSeal in reducing epidural fibrosis in a rat laminectomy model.
OBJECTIVE
An increased amount of fibrosis formed after lumbar surgery may be the underlying cause of the failed back surgery syndrome in most cases. Various materials have been used to prevent epidural fibrosis, but only limited success has been achieved. In this study, the authors investigated the effect of FloSeal (a gelatine-containing thrombin-based haemostatic agent) on spinal epidural fibrosis in a rat laminectomy model.


METHODS
Sixteen Wistar rats underwent laminectomy at L4 and L5 levels. In 8 rats, 0.5 mL of FloSeal was locally applied to the laminectomy site. The laminectomy site was irrigated with saline in the control group of 8 other rats. The rats were sacrificed four weeks later. Each specimen was examined for density of fibrosis, and both fibroblast and inflammatory cell density.


RESULTS
Epidural fibrosis density differed significantly between the FloSeal group and the control group. Evaluation of the fibroblast density and the inflammatory cell density showed a statistically significant difference between the FloSeal group and the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Application of FloSeal at a laminectomy site may be useful to decrease adhesion at the interface between the dura mater and epidural fibrosis.
Dogulu
Fikret
F
Department of Neurosurgery, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey, GSM. fikretdogulu@hotmail.com
Durdag
Emre
E
Cemil
Berker
B
Kurt
Gohkan
G
Ozgun
Gonca
G
D000818:Animals; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000473:pathology*; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D005781:Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
C411004:FloSeal Matrix