MATERIAL and METHODS: The study involved allocating rats into three distinct groups: control, local tetracosactide, and systemic tetracosactide (n = 6, per group). The control group underwent a simple laminectomy procedure. The local tetracosactide group was administered the drug directly via the dura. The systemic tetracosactide group was administered intraperitoneal tetracosactide following skin closure. Thirty days post-operation, evaluations of epidural fibrosis were performed macroscopically and histopathologically.

RESULTS: The macroscopic scores of epidural fibrosis were lower in both the local and systemic tetracosactide groups compared to the control group, although this difference was only statistically significant for the systemic group (p>0.05; p<0.05, respectively). A similar trend was seen microscopically, with both tetracosactide groups displaying significant reduction in fibrosis scores compared to controls (p<0.01, for both groups). Furthermore, fibroblast cell density classification scores and fibrosis thickness were also reduced in both tetracosactide groups relative to the control group, although only the differences in thickness were statistically significant (p<0.001, for both groups).

CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that tetracosactide may offer a promising alternative treatment for the prevention of epidural fibrosis following laminectomy. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Anahtar Kelimeler : Epidural fibrosis, Laminectomy, Tetracosactide