Hyperbaric oxygen in epidural fibrosis: is there a potential for treatment?

To investigate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on epidural fibrosis formation in an experimental laminectomy model. Twenty-four Wistar rats underwent L5-L6 total laminectomy and divided into three groups. Animals in the control group received no further treatment while animals in short and long term groups received 2,5 ATM ABS of hyperbaric oxygen for 3 and 7 days, respectively. The amount of epidural fibrosis was analyzed histologically at the end of 42 days of follow up. The ratio of severe fibrosis was 57% in the control, 29% in the short HBOT, and 14% in the long HBOT groups. Although there was a clear trend towards having less fibrosis in the HBOT groups, the difference did not reach to the level of statistical significance (p=0.242), probably due to small number of animals used in this preliminary study. Our findings suggest that hyperbaric oxygen treatment may have favorable effects on epidural fibrosis. Further studies with larger cohorts are required to prove our results.