A Second Look at the Use of VersaWrap® Nerve Protector in Spine Surgery: A Case Report

TL;DR

This case report examines the use of VersaWrap® in spine surgery to manage scar tissue, with no complications observed in 169 procedures.

Contribution

The paper provides clinical evidence of VersaWrap's safety and effectiveness in lumbar decompression surgeries.

Findings

No complications were reported in 169 lumbar decompression procedures using VersaWrap.

VersaWrap bioresorbed completely and scar tissue was easily removed during revision surgery.

The combination of VersaWrap with medicinal agents is presented as a standard of care.

Abstract

The presence of severe epidural fibrosis (EF) during a spinal revision procedure increases the risk of interoperative complications and post-operative success. We present a retrospective series of one surgeon’s standard of care application of VersaWrap® Nerve Protector (Alafair Biosciences, Inc., Austin, TX, USA) in 169 lumbar decompressions in conjunction with Depo-Medrol (80 mg) and Marcaine/epinephrine (1 mL) to manage scar tissue tethering of the nerve root to the surrounding tissues. Of the 169 total lumbar decompression procedures, there were zero (0) complications reported for VersaWrap in conjunction with the medicinal agents in the dosages reported. A representative case of a patient who later underwent a revision procedure is highlighted to allow a second-look assessment of the initial VersaWrap application. The surgeon's experience was that VersaWrap bioresorbed completely and that any scar tissue present was easy to remove without significant mechanical disruption. We also discuss standard of care surgical practice with VersaWrap in conjunction with medicinal agents and future directives of VersaWrap application.

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