STUDY DESIGN: A randomized-controlled experimental study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) on postlaminectomy epidural fibrosis in rats. SETTING: Diyarbakir, Turkey. METHODS: In a rat model, allowing objective histopathological quantification, the postoperative epidural scar formation was investigated and the potential of local rt-PA in preventing the production of epidural fibrosis was assessed. Rats were randomly allocated to local rt-PA (12 rats) or control (12 rats). RESULTS: Findings suggest a beneficial effect of rt-PA in decreasing the epidural fibrosis following laminectomy when compared with control groups for all investigated parameters such as intermuscular scar (P=0.04), middle scar (P=0.001), deep scar (P=0.001) and dural adhesion (P=0.01) except new bone formation. The presence of arachnoiditis was less in treatment group (P=0.01). CONCLUSION: In rats, the topical thrombolysis with rt-PA is safe and efficacious in preventing postlaminectomy epidural fibrosis. This Thrombolytic therapy with rt-PA after spine surgery may come to play an important role in the prevention of epidural fibrosis and arachnoiditis.
STUDY DESIGN: A randomized-controlled experimental study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) on postlaminectomy epidural fibrosis in rats. SETTING: Diyarbakir, Turkey. METHODS: In a rat model, allowing objective histopathological quantification, the postoperative epidural scar formation was investigated and the potential of local rt-PA in preventing the production of epidural fibrosis was assessed. Rats were randomly allocated to local rt-PA (12 rats) or control (12 rats). RESULTS: Findings suggest a beneficial effect of rt-PA in decreasing the epidural fibrosis following laminectomy when compared with control groups for all investigated parameters such as intermuscular scar (P=0.04), middle scar (P=0.001), deep scar (P=0.001) and dural adhesion (P=0.01) except new bone formation. The presence of arachnoiditis was less in treatment group (P=0.01). CONCLUSION: In rats, the topical thrombolysis with rt-PA is safe and efficacious in preventing postlaminectomy epidural fibrosis. This Thrombolytic therapy with rt-PA after spine surgery may come to play an important role in the prevention of epidural fibrosis and arachnoiditis.
Authors: Ivan Urits; Ruben H Schwartz; Joseph Brinkman; Lukas Foster; Paulo Miro; Amnon A Berger; Hisham Kassem; Alan D Kaye; Laxmaiah Manchikanti; Omar Viswanath Journal: Psychopharmacol Bull Date: 2020-10-15