The use of titanium mesh for defect closure after posterior spinal decompression

Objective: The number of revision surgical interventions for degenerative spine disorders has increased steadily. However, the formation of adhesions is one of the more serious conditions accompanying this type of surgery. There are some generally accepted options for its prevention, such as delicate surgical technique, preserving the integrity of spinal canal, and the use of different synthetic materials in the form of gels, plates and membranes to delimit the dural sac from the surrounding soft tissues. The main disadvantages of the described methods are their high cost and the need for a large volume of material in prolonged surgical interventions. Therefore, the development of new methods for prevention of adhesions formations is of paramount importance. The use of titanium mesh is, potentially, an effective and relatively cheap method of preventing the formation of adhesions in spinal surgeries. Methods: We have prospectively analyzed the outcomes of treatment of 40 patients suffering from degenerative spine disease who underwent surgical intervention with titanium mesh implantation in our department between October 2017 and December 2017. Conclusion: The results of our study led us to conclude that the use of titanium mesh enables the surgeon to delimit the dural sac in multilevel spinal decompression surgeries, contributing to closure of the defect in spinal canal and significantly reducing treatment costs. Level of evidence III; Control Case Study. © 2019 Oficial da Sociedade Brasileira de Coluna. All rights reserved.