Background: A retrospective study investigated the advantages of the intraoperative application of the anti-adhesion barrier gel Adcon-L after lumbar microdiscectomy.
Methods: For the study, 92 patients were recruited. Following the operation, 46 patients (study group) received Adcon-L application. In other 46 patients (control group), wounds were closed without Adcon-L application. Median follow-up was 32 (range 26-33) months in the study group and 37 (range 32-41) months in the control group postoperation. All patients were examined clinically, and spinal MRIs were carried out on 12 randomly selected patients in each group.
Results: According to the score of the Low Back Pain Committee of the Japanese Orthopedic Association, no significant clinical difference could be established between the two groups. Subjective evaluation of the operation results (score according to Weber) was not significant. Peridural scarring on the postoperative MRI of 24 patients did not differ significantly between the groups.
Conclusion: A significant effect on the clinical results after Adcon-L application could not be found.