Angiogenic capabilities of omentomyelopexy for injured spinal cord revascularization

Abstract

Introduction/Objective Increasing incidence of spinal cord injuries presents a very important issue. These patients are usually very young, treatment is very difficult, long, expensive, and, in general, of little success. The aim of this study was to evaluate the angiogenic potential of the omental graft in spinal cord revascularization after the injury. Methods The study included 19 patients, who underwent a recurrent surgical procedure for pain syndrome or surgical complication, and one patient in whom angiography revealed no flow in the distal part of an omental graft. Results Our study confirmed angiogenic capabilities of the omental graft placed in the course of omentomyelopexy, for the injured spinal cord revascularization, macroscopically and histopathologically. Study results are limited due to including patients only when the postoperative period was complicated. Conclusion Our study provides some invasive insight into the angiogenic capabilities, although further (likely less invasive) studies are needed to elucidate more clearly omental angiogenesis in spinal cord injury, and to include patients in whom the procedure went well. © 2018, Serbia Medical Society. All rights reserved.