Adhesion Prevention

Adhesions are fibrous bands of tissue that form during the normal course of healing, following surgery. Post-surgical adhesions have been found to be the most problematic in abdominal, gynecologic, spine, cardiac, tendon and peripheral nerve surgeries. Depending on the location, density, size and tenacity, these adhesions can lead to significant clinical problems such as infertility, small bowel obstruction, recurring back or pelvic pain, and loss of function and sensation. For these reasons, surgeons have sought a consistent, effective method which complements less invasive procedures and good surgical technique to prevent post-surgical adhesions.

Adhesion prevention products are designed to minimize post-surgical adhesions, typically by creating a mechanical barrier between internal tissues and organs. HA makes for an ideal adhesion barrier, as it is a naturally occurring substance found in the body.

Anika's anti-adhesion product, INCERT®, is a crosslinked HA gel, designed to prevent adhesions. Crosslinking the HA allows the gel to stay in the body long enough to keep the tissues separated during the time that adhesions are known to form. The gel is then absorbed and excreted via normal biological pathways.

Peridural fibrosis is scar tissue (adhesions) that has formed after spinal surgery that can cause severe pain and discomfort. INCERT^®-S is the first product in the INCERT family which is designed to prevent adhesions after spinal surgery such as discectomy with laminectomy or laminotomy.