Experimental study on enlargement of the cervical spinal canal. With special referrence to post-operative scar tissue

We have been wing a method of enlargement of the cervical spinal canal for cervical posterior decompression and satisfactory results have been obtained so far.In this study we have conducted an experimental observation on rabbits to clarify the transition of post-operative scar tissue and other influences around the dura mater after enlargement of the spinal canal, comparing with that after laminectomy.We divided the animals into three groups; for 1st group laminectomy was done, for 2nd group one-third partial laminectomy was done and for 3rd group enlargement of the canal was done.The animals were killed at the interval of 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12 weeks after operation and histological examinations were performed.Scar formation was observed far less in 2nd and 3rd groups than in 1st group. And also less influence of the scar to the dura was observed in 2nd and 3rd groups. In 3rd group, new bone formation was seen mainly at the dorsal site of the laminae remained.It can be concluded from this study that enlargement of the spinal canal has less scar formation and can obtain satisfactory decompression, therefore, this method is useful in clinic.