Prevention of Epidural Fibrosis Using Ranibizumab in a Postlaminectomy Rat Model.
OBJECTIVE
One of the most significant reasons for persistent low back pain experienced after spinal surgery is epidural fibrosis seen after laminectomy procedures. This study shows the effects of Ranibizumab on spinal epidural fibrosis in the laminectomy area by blocking the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor.


METHODS
Twenty Wistar rats were used in this study. Rats were divided into two groups; a control group and a ranibizumab group. Only laminectomy was performed to the control group. In the ranibizumab group, 0.6 mg/kg ranibizumab diluted in 0.9% NaCl with the ratio of 1:10 was applied topically. Three weeks later, the vertebral columns were resected en bloc including the whole laminectomy area in both groups and evaluated histopathologically. Results were compared using statistical tools.


RESULTS
Based on the statistical analysis, our data show that less epidural fibrosis was seen in the ranibizumab group compared to the control group (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Topically applied Ranibizumab is significantly effective in preventing epidural fibrosis in rats occurred after laminectomy.
Ordu University, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Ordu, Turkey.
Ali
A
Yilmaz
Mete
M
Karatay
Timur
T
Yildirim
Haydar
H
Celik
Idris
I
Sertbas
Yavuz
Y
Erdem
Muzaffer
M
Caydere
Hasan Serdar
HS
Isik
Mehmet Akif
MA
Bayar
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000473:pathology*; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D000069579:Ranibizumab / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
D000069579:Ranibizumab