Evaluation of Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Lumbar interbody fusion provides the most logical solution to diseases of the lumbar spine instabilities, such as spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis and retrolisthesis. The 33 cases of lumbar interbody fusion done after Cloward method, Wiltberger method, method using bovine bone employing Cloward technique, and anterolateral approach were analyzed. Posterior interbody fusion after Wiltberger technique using dowel bone graft is a more simplified method, providing accurate approximation of graft and host bone and preventing extrusion of graft then Cloward technique. Immediate correction of extruded graft if any after postoperative CT checking is essential for successful fusion.

Spinal Interbody Fusion with Bovine Bone: A preliminary report

The authors experienced on the use of bovine bone in 3 cases of interbody fusion employing the Cloward technique. Two patients were cervical fracture-dislocation and one patient was a case of lumbar spondylolysis. With use of bovine bone, iliac osteotomy is unnecessary, and this procedure is no problem of donor site pain and infection which can be possible in interbody fusion with iliac bone and rib graft. With the use of bovine bone the additional advantages are. 1) The operative procedure is simplified. 2) The time required for the operation is diminished. 3) Patient meralgia is eliminated completely. 4) The surgeon can have uniformly sized bones of a proven hardness on hand. 5) The epidural bleeding is showed through lattice of bovine bone.