Turkish Neurosurgery 2019 , Vol 29 , Num 1
The Preventative Effect of α-Tocopherol on Spinal Epidural Fibrosis After Laminectomy in a Rat Model
Cengiz TUNCER1,Canan SUBASI1,Cem DINC1,Erhan TURKOGLU2,Uygur ER1
1Duzce University, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Duzce, Turkey
2Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Neurosurgery Clinic, Ankara, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.22357-17.5 AIM: To assess the efficacy of α-tocopherol as a topical antifibrotic agent on epidural fibrosis in lumbar laminectomy procedures.

MATERIAL and METHODS: A total of 32 adult rats were assigned into four groups, with eight rats in each group. Standard laminectomy was performed in every rat. In group 1, no treatment was administered after laminectomy. In group 2, a saline-soaked absorbable gelatin sponge was left on the dura mater after laminectomy. In group 3, only α-tocopherol was used on the dura mater after laminectomy. In group 4, a gelatin sponge soaked with α-tocopherol was used after laminectomy. En bloc vertebral columns between T10 and L5 were removed after sacrifice on postoperative day 30. Specimens were evaluated for degree of fibrosis and arachnoidal invasions.

RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found in the mean of fibrosis grades between groups (p=0.001). Differences in mean arachnoidal invasion were not statistically significant (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Topical application of α-tocopherol could effectively reduce the development of epidural fibrosis in an experimental laminectomy model. Keywords : ?-tocopherol, Laminectomy model, Postlaminectomy fibrosis, Vitamin E

Corresponding author : Uygur ER, uygurer@gmail.com