ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Post-laminectomy peridural fibrosis and arachnoid adhesions related to lower back pain are common problems after laminectomy operations. Previous studies have shown that radiotherapy might prevent low back syndrome after laminectomy.

Methods:

In this study, 23 male Wistar albino rats were used. Group I included nine rats that underwent laminectomy (L group), group II included nine rats treated with laminectomy and perioperative radiotherapy (L + R group). Group III included five rats and was used as a control group that did not undergo treatment. Laminectomy was performed in the L3 and L4 lumbar vertebral regions of group I and II rats. Rats in-group II also received perioperative radiotherapy in the laminectomy area. Radiotherapy was perioperative provided with electron radiation to a total dose of 700 cGy as a single fraction.

Results:

Histopathological grade 0 epidural fibrosis and grade 1 fibroblast cell density ratios were 44.44% and 88.88% in the L + R group, 0% and 33.33% in the L group, respectively. Arachnoid adhesions were present in 88.8% of the L group, but only 44.4% of the L + R group. Grade 3 epidural fibrosis was shown in four rats (44.44%) in the L group and one rats (11.11%) in the L + R group.

Conclusion:

Results indicate that perioperatively provided radiotherapy is significantly advantageous in preventing post-laminectomy adhesions and is not toxic.