Turkish Neurosurgery 2013 , Vol 23 , Num 5
Hyperbaric Oxygen in Epidural Fibrosis: Is There a Potential for Treatment?
Alp Ozgun BORCEK1, Pelin BORCEK2, Soner CIVI1, Hakan EMMEZ1, Ahmet SEN3, Sükrü AYKOL1
1Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey
2Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Ankara, Turkey
3Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Aerospace Medicine, Eskisehir, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.7217-12.2 AIM: To investigate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on epidural fibrosis formation in an experimental laminectomy model.

MATERIAL and METHODS: Twenty-four Wistar rats underwent L5-L6 total laminectomy and divided into three groups. Animals in the control group received no further treatment while animals in short and long term groups received 2,5 ATM ABS of hyperbaric oxygen for 3 and 7 days, respectively. The amount of epidural fibrosis was analyzed histologically at the end of 42 days of follow up.

RESULTS: The ratio of severe fibrosis was 57% in the control, 29% in the short HBOT, and 14% in the long HBOT groups. Although there was a clear trend towards having less fibrosis in the HBOT groups, the difference did not reach to the level of statistical significance (p=0.242), probably due to small number of animals used in this preliminary study.

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that hyperbaric oxygen treatment may have favorable effects on epidural fibrosis. Further studies with larger cohorts are required to prove our results Keywords : Epidural fibrosis, Failed back syndrome, Hyperbaric oxygen, Laminectomy, Peridural fibrosis

Corresponding author : Alp Ozgun Borcek, alpob@yahoo.com