[Postoperative fibrosis after lumbar surgery]

Postoperative fibrosis is the excessive scarring resulting from any surgery; that is, the formation of more fibrous tissue than is normal. In some lumbar surgeries this fibrous tissue compresses or distends the dura mater and/or nerve roots, causing low back pain or radiculopathy.

This report considers the results of 680 simple lumbar discectomies and 80 repeated surgeries resulting from failed lumbar operations. Among both groups an important reduction of the postoperative fibrosis incidence was observed. All patients were operated by the same surgeons, using the same surgical technique (open technique) and the same implanted materials. A Gore's antifibrotic spinal membrane was applied in all patients.

Among the 680 patients who underwent a simple lumbar discectomy, 98% experienced clinical improvement, while in the group of patients who were reoperated after a failed lumbar surgery the recovery index was 92%. The incidence of postoperative fibrosis in both groups was 0.58% and 2.5%, respectively.

As compared to the postoperative fibrosis reported worldwide (2-18%) we believe this material has a great influence in the healing process.