Turkish Neurosurgery
Less use of bipolar cautery can prevent post-laminectomy epidural fibrosis: An experimental study in rats
Vaner Köksal1, Tolga Mercantepe2, Levent Tümkaya2, İbrahim Suat Öktem3
1Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Samsun Eğitim Araştırma Hastanesi , Beyin Cerrahisi, Samsun ,
2Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Histoloji, Rize,
3Erciyes Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi , Beyin Cerrahisi, Kayseri,
DOI: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.27544-19.2

Aim:to investigate the role of bipolar electrocautery in the occurrence of epidural fibrosis following lumbar spine laminectomy in a rat modelMaterial and Methods:Fourteen male Sprague–Dawley rats (age: 4–6 months, weight: 250–300 g) were randomly divided into two groups, a bipolar group (group I) and a control group (group II). Laminectomy was performed between the L1 and L3 levels. In group I (n = 7), a laminectomy was carried out and soft tissue around the spinal cord burned with bipolar electrocautery. In the control group (n = 7), only laminectomy was performed. The animals were sacrificed 4 weeks after surgery, and post-laminectomy epidural fibrosis (PLEF) was evaluated. Qualitative and quantitative histology and gross pathological examination were performed, as well as immunohistochemical staining with transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), collagen I and collagen III. Results:The numbers of TGF-β positive cell staining (PCS) were 3.00 ± 0.46 for group I and 1.00 ± 0.52 for group II. The numbers of collagen I PCS were 2.00 ± 0.93 for group I and 1.25 ± 0.46 for group II. The numbers of collagen III PCS were 2.25 ± 0.76 for group I, 1.25 ± 0.46 for group II, and TGF-β PCS than group II (p ≤ 0.05). Compared with the control group, group I’s formation of epidural fibrosis was significantly increased Conclusion:Our study clearly demonstrated that the use of bipolar cauterisation is associated with increased PLEF in the experimental animal model. Thus, limiting the use of bipolar cauterisation may be effective in reducing this complication.

Corresponding author : Vaner Köksal