Repair of spinal dural defects. An experimental study

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Biomaterials Science
• Veterinary Medicine

Background:

• Duraplasty, the surgical repair of dural defects, lacks a universally ideal material.
• Most research focuses on cranial dura repair, with less attention paid to spinal duraplasty.
• Evaluating biomaterials for spinal dural repair is crucial for improving surgical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of autologous fat, polyester fiber mesh (Mersilene), and silicone-coated Dacron (Dura Film) for repairing spinal dural defects in a canine model.
• To compare the histological outcomes and tissue integration of different biomaterials used in spinal duraplasty.

Main Methods:

• Nineteen dogs underwent lumbar laminectomy with the excision of three noncontiguous dural defects.
• Defects were repaired using autologous fat, Mersilene, or Dura Film.
• Animals were sacrificed at 3, 6, 12, and 24 weeks post-surgery for histological examination of the repaired dural sites.

Main Results:

• All tested materials achieved dural defect closure.
• Polyester fiber mesh (Mersilene) facilitated neomembrane formation and effective dural edge union.
• Autologous fat also yielded favorable repair results.
• Silicone-coated Dacron (Dura Film) led to connective tissue encapsulation and ventral compression of the spinal cord.

Conclusions:

• Polyester fiber mesh and autologous fat are promising biomaterials for spinal duraplasty due to their integration and lack of adverse effects.
• Silicone-coated Dacron is less suitable for spinal duraplasty due to encapsulation and potential for spinal cord compression.
• Further research into optimal biomaterials for spinal dural repair is warranted.