Aim:to investigate the role of bipolar electrocautery in the occurrence of epidural fibrosis following lumbar spine laminectomy in a rat model
Material and Methods:Fourteen male SpragueDawley rats (age: 46 months, weight: 250300 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 Is 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.