How Adhesion Barriers Work in Spine Surgery
Postoperative pain can be caused by formation of scar tissue or by exposure of spinal nerves to irritating pro-inflammatory mediators.
Adhesion barrier gel coats & separates nerve fibers and dura from surrounding tissues.
Bioabsorbable gel barrier can prevent adhesion formation & limit exposure to biochemical irritants produced during surgery.
Spinal adhesion barriers are designed to coat the epidural space during decompression surgery in order to form a temporary physical barrier as tissues heal. This protective barrier has been shown to reduce the formation of scar tissue near the nerve root and may limit exposure of nerve tissue to irritants that can cause postoperative pain.
Causes of Postoperative Pain
One cause of pain following back surgery is the formation of scar tissue near the nerve root; called epidural fibrosis, or adhesions. Adhesions can cause spinal nerves to become trapped and compressed, resulting in pain even after an otherwise successful spine surgery procedure.
Postoperative pain can also be caused when sensitive spinal nerves are exposed to irritating pro-inflammatory mediators. These biochemical irritants, present in disc herniation tissue and within the epidural space, can cause sensitization of spinal nerves and surrounding tissues.
Both the formation of adhesions and the stimulation of pain mediators are part of the body's normal response to manipulation and exposure of tissues during surgery. However, these reactions are known to be major causes of post-surgical leg and back pain, and other debilitating symptoms, that can persist long after recovery is complete.
A mainstay of postoperative pain prevention is the use of adhesion barriers, such as FzioMed's Oxiplex®, Oxiplex®/SP and MediShield™ products, to coat and protect sensitive nerve tissue.
Adhesion Barriers
Adhesion barriers coat surfaces that are exposed during spinal decompression surgery, providing a temporary, protective physical barrier that isolates exposed nerve fibers and dura from surrounding tissues. These barriers function by various mechanisms:
- They can prevent adhesions from forming, so that the nerve is not tethered to spinal structures or compressed by epidural fibrosis.
- They can limit the exposure of nerves to biochemical irritants that are produced during surgery.
Application of a FzioMed adhesion barrier gel during surgery is simple and takes only seconds. After surgery, the gel does not prevent normal healing. It is naturally cleared by the body.
To learn more about FzioMed and our products, contact us online.
