ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the value of the self-decompression bone block in interbody fusion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From April 2014 to May 2015, 42 patients with degenerative lumbar instability and spinal stenosis were treated by posterior vertebral lamina decompression and pedicle nail-rod fixation and unilateral modified transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, including 18 males and 24 females. The treatment group had 24 cases with autologous pure decompression bone block as single interbody fusion material and the control group had 18 cases with cage and autologous bone as interbody fusion material. Clinical data, bone healing time, interbody fusion rate, intervertebral height and curative effect were analyzed in two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the patients were followed up for 12 to 24 months with an average of 16 months. There was no significant difference in age, sex ratio, degree of lumbar instability, or follow-up time between two groups(>0.05); and there was no significant difference in curative effect, intervertebral height loss, or interbody fusion rate between two groups(>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Using self-decompression bone block fusion can get high fusion rate, maintain good intervertebral height, obtain satisfactory curative effect. Its design was scientific and reasonable with less complication, which provide an effective, economic, and practical method for degenerative lumbar instability and spinal stenosis.</p>