Posterolateral fusion with autogenous laminospinous process bone graft.

The results of posterolateral spinal fusion by using autogenous iliac bone graft is gold standard. However, there are some undesirable effects at the donor site. This study reports the outcome of posterolateral spinal fusion by using an autogenous bone graft from the lamina and spinous process. From June 1993 to May 2001, Decompressive laminectomy, pedicle screw fixation system and posterolateral fusion were performed on 92 patients using autogenous bone from the decompressive laminectomy procedure. The follow-up periods were 2-8 years. 97.56 per cent of the patients had a solid fusion mass at 6 months after operation. There were no undesirable effects at the iliac region. The JOA score for low back pain improved in all patients. The result of posterolateral spinal fusion by using autogenous bone from the lamina and spinous process is comparable to the autogenous iliac bone graft. The advantages of using the laminospinous process bone graft are short operating time, less blood loss than taking a bone graft from the iliac crest, no complication or undesirable effects at the iliac region.