Use of polylactide resorbable film as an adhesion barrier

The present investigation evaluates two thicknesses of a resorbable polylactide barrier film as an adhesion barrier to posterior spine scar formation. A readily contourable, thin film was placed directly over the dura. The thick film was placed above the lamina defect to act as a physical barrier inhibiting the prolapse of soft tissue into the epidural space. Through a combination of gross dissection with and without scar scores, quantitative analysis of collagen adjacent to the scar site, and histologic evaluation, the resorbable adhesion barrier membranes were found to be effective treatment for reduction of posterior adhesions. The gross dissection demonstrated that both thicknesses of resorbable polymer barrier films created a controlled dissection plane, facilitated access to the epidural space, and provided a reduction in the tissue adhered to the dura.