According to the "classical paradigm" of adhesion formation, the pathogenesis starts with inflammation and activation of the coagulation system which causes fibrin deposits onto the damaged tissues.

In many cases, the production or activity of these enzymes are compromised because of inflammation following injury or infection, however, and the fibrinous adhesion persists.

In 2002, Giuseppe Martucciello's research group showed a possible role could be played by microscopic foreign bodies (FB) inadvertently contaminating the operative field during surgery.

[4] These data suggested that two different stimuli are necessary for adhesion formation: a direct lesion of the mesothelial layers and a solid substrate foreign body (FB).

Adhesion-related twisting and pulling of internal organs may result in complications such as abdominal pain or intestinal obstruction.

A SBO may be caused when an adhesion pulls or kinks the small intestine and prevents the flow of content through the digestive tract.

According to statistics provided by the National Hospital Discharge Survey approximately 2,000 people die every year in the US from obstruction due to adhesions.

Many obstructive events require surgery, however, to loosen or dissolve the offending adhesion(s) or to resect the affected small intestine.

The impairment of reproductive performance from adhesions may happen through many mechanisms, all of which usually stem from the distortion of the normal tubo-ovarian relationship.

[6] A meta-analysis in 2012 came to the conclusion that there is only little evidence for the surgical principle that using less invasive techniques, introducing fewer foreign bodies, or causing less ischemia reduces the extent and severity of adhesions in pelvic surgery.

Adhesions and scarring as epidural fibrosis may occur after spinal surgery that restricts the free movement of nerve roots, causing tethering and leading to pain.

[2] One method to reduce the formation of adhesions following abdominal surgery is hydroflotation, in which the organs are separated from one another by being floated in a solution.