Formation of Adhesive Arachnoiditis with Epidural Fibrosis as a Cause of Repeated Surgical Interventions (Clinical Case)

Abstract

The work presents a rare clinical case of adhesive arachnoiditis, which developed against the background of epidural fibrosis during repeated surgical interventions. The cicatricial adhesion in the epidural space is formed in 100% of cases after surgery and is a frequent cause of intraoperative complications during repeated surgical interventions (bleeding, damage to the spinal cord and the dura mater with subsequent outflow of cerebrospinal fluid) and, therefore, an unsatisfactory result of surgical treatment with the formation of constant pain of various intensity, pseudomeningocele, commissural arachnoiditis, etc. The cicatricial adhesion in the epidural space is the main reason for the development of failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), which today is an important and unresolved problem in spinal surgery. The epidural, as well as the subdural and subarachnoid space of the operated spinal motor segment of the spinal canal can be involved in the cicatricial adhesion, as it is shown in our clinical example. In this regard, it is important to prevent the development of the cicatricial adhesion in the epidural space during primary spinal surgeries, since with the increase in life expectancy of the population and increase in surgical activity during spinal surgeries, the patient can be operated repeatedly. Consequently, the question arises of preventing the formation of the cicatricial adhesion in 100% of cases with each surgical intervention, since the formed cicatricial adhesion in the epidural space does not have effective methods of conservative and surgical treatment and worsens favorable and satisfactory forecasts of surgical treatment for repeated surgical interventions.

Keywords

• laminectomy
• complications
• diagnostics
• epidural fibrosis
• adhesive arachnoiditis
• prevention