Delayed Detected Unexpected Complication of ADCON-L® Gel in Lumbar Surgery

The ADCON-L gel® (Gliatech, Cleveland, OH, USA), a carbohydrate polymer gel, has been shown in a controlled clinical study to inhibit postsurgical adhesions and improve a patient's clinical outcome. Immediate complication of this gel has been reported in the recent literature including back pain, radiculitis and durotomy. However, delayed detection of disturbance of muscle healing and attachment in late postoperative state has been rarely reported. This report documents an unexpected delayed detected complication of the anti-adhesion barrier gel, which was used after lumbar discectomy one year ago, with review of literature.