The Availability of Autogenous Bicortical Iliac Bone Graft in Anterior Cervical Interbody Fusion

ABSTRACT

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the fusion rate, degree of subsidence and donor site morbidity of anterior cervical interbody fusion with autogenous bicortical iliac bone graft and anterior cervical locking plate. SUMMARY OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW In anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with autogenous tricortical iliac bone graft, a large percentage of patients report chronic donor site pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective research was done for 39 patients who underwent anterior cervical interbody fusion with autogenous bicortical iliac bone graft, from January 2006 to July 2011, with a follow up period of longer than 1 year. Fusion rates and subsidece of the graft is estimated with radiographs. Neck pain and donor site pain was estimated with visual analogue scale (VAS) and dysfunction was estimated with the neck disability index (NDI). RESULTS: A 95% of patients who underwent anterior cervical interbody fusion with autogenous bicortical iliac bone graft revealed definitive fusion with little amount of subsidence. The mean VAS score was 0.7 on the donor site and the mean NDI score was 3.8 at the final visit. There was excellent clinical outcome without complication at the donor site or the recipient site. CONCLUSIONS: Anterior cervical interbody fusion with autogenous bicortical iliac bone graft showed high fusion rates and minimal subsidence with excellent clinical outcomes. Therefore, bicortical iliac bone graft is an effective operational procedure in anterior cervical interbody fusion.