What is scar tissue and arachnoiditis?
Scar tissue formation reflects a spectrum of tissue response to irritation. The irritation may be from chronic irritation, infection, foreign substances, and following surgery. Scar tissue involving the spinal area is most common in the lumbar region and appears in two forms: epidural scar tissue and lumbar arachnoiditis. Anatomy The spinal cord extends from the base of the brain and ends at the L-2 level with lumbar nerves extending downwards to the sacrum (tailbone), bladder, and legs. A fine avascular membrane called the aracnoid covers the spinal cord and nerves. These structures float in spinal fluid. The dural sac, a tough, fibrous tubular structure extends from the base of the skull to the sacrum and encloses the spinal fluid, arachnoid, spinal cord, and nerves. PICTURE FROM MYELOGRAM BOOKLET SHOWING LATERAL VIEW Scar Tissue Scar tissue is an abnormal thickening of reactive tissue outside the dural sac. This epidural scar tissue, located above the dural tissue, is called epidura
