Turkish Neurosurgery 2011 , Vol 21 , Num 4
Effects of Phenytoin Sodium on Dura Mater Healing in a Rat Model of CSF Leakage
Ertan ERGUN1, Gokhan KURT1, Mehmet TONGE1, Hamit AYTAR1, Murat TAS2, Kemali BAYKANER1, Necdet CEVIKER1
1Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey
2Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology, Ankara, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN .4165-11.2 AIM: Cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) leakage caused by defects on the dura mater after trauma or some neurosurgical interventions is an important issue. In this study, we investigated the effects of local and systemic use of phenytoin sodium on dural healing.

MATERIAL and METHODS: Thirty-six male Wistar rats were divided into control, local phenytoin and systemic phenytoin groups with 12 rats in each. For each group, a dura defect was created at thoracic segment. Subjects were sacrificed at following 1st and 6th weeks and damaged segments were isolated. The results were compared histopathologically by Hematoxylin-Eosin and Masson-Trichrome staining. Criteria for the rate of collagen, neovascularization, and granulation formation were assessed semi quantitatively according to the histological assessment scale modified by Ozisik et al.

RESULTS: Better healing was achieved in the systemic and local phenytoin groups than in the control group. The level of healing was significantly higher in the systemic group in both early and late periods than in other groups (p<0.01). The level of healing in the late-local group was also statistically significantly higher than that in the control group.

CONCLUSION: We observed that both systemic and local uses of phenytoin sodium (especially systemic) have positive effects on dura healing. Keywords : CSF leakage, Dura mater, Phenytoin sodium, Healing

Corresponding author : Mehmet Tonge, tonge_m@yahoo.com