Peri-operative radiotherapy for the prevention of post-operative fibrosis on rats

Background: post-operative fibrosis related pains and functional anomalies can beserious problems for patients. radiotherapy (rt) could inhibit fibrosis which mayoccurs post- operation especially following laminectomy. therefore, this study wasdesigned to investigate the effect of peri-operative rt on the prevention ofpost-operative fibrosis and scar formation on rats. materials and methods:twenty three male wistar albino rats, were divided into three experimental groups.laminectomy was performed to l3 and l4 lomber vertebral regions of group l andl+r rats. the rats in l+r group in addition to this procedure also receivedperi-operative rt on the laminectomy area. a total dose of 700 cgy of rt wasapplied as a single fraction using electrons. control rats received no treatment. arotarod test was performed at 20, 30 and 40 rpm/min speed rates to determine thephysical performances of the rats. results: the results have indicatedstatistically significant (p<0.05) differences for the 30 rpm/min rotarod testbetween the l and l+r groups. histopatologically, significant differences wereobserved in epidural fibrosis, fibroblast cell density and arachnoid adhesionbetween the l and l+r groups. conclusion: it was concluded that peri-operativert may provide a significant advantage for prevention post-laminectomic of scartissue formation.