Remarkable epidural scar formation compressing the cervical cord after osteoplastic laminoplasty with hydroxyapatite spacer

J Neurosurg Spine. 2011 Nov;15(5):497-501. doi: 10.3171/2011.6.SPINE10930. Epub 2011 Aug 12.

Abstract

The authors report on an 81-year-old woman whose condition deteriorated 2 months after undergoing osteoplastic laminoplasty with placement of hydroxyapatite spacers. Magnetic resonance imaging showed postlaminectomy scar formation compressing the cervical spinal cord. The patient underwent laminectomy and removal of remarkably thick epidural scar tissue, which resulted in resolution of her symptoms. Histological diagnosis of the scar was fibrous granulation tissue with foreign body granuloma, characterized by multinucleated giant cells and marked increases of capillary vessels, fibroblasts, and collagen fibers. This case of symptomatic postlaminectomy scar formation after osteoplastic laminoplasty suggests that osteoplastic laminoplasty cannot always prevent laminectomy membrane formation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cementoplasty / adverse effects*
  • Cicatrix / etiology*
  • Cicatrix / pathology
  • Cicatrix / surgery
  • Dura Mater / pathology*
  • Dura Mater / surgery
  • Durapatite / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Foreign-Body Reaction / etiology*
  • Foreign-Body Reaction / pathology
  • Foreign-Body Reaction / surgery
  • Humans
  • Laminectomy / adverse effects*
  • Spinal Cord Compression / etiology*
  • Spinal Cord Compression / pathology
  • Spinal Cord Compression / surgery

Substances

  • Durapatite