Synthetic Bone Graft versus Autograft Obtained from the Spinous Process in Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion.

AIM: To compare the clinical and radiological results of using synthetic bone graft versus autograft obtained from the spinous process in posterior lumbar interbody fusion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 102 patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis who underwent one-segment posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) followed by one-segment posterior transpedicular instrumentation. PLIF surgery was performed using a local solid bone graft obtained from the spinous process in group A and using a synthetic solid calcium hydroxyapatite block in group B. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, degree of bone formation, intervertebral disc heights at the operation segment, wound infection, and instrumentation complications were compared between the 6-month and 5-year follow-ups. RESULTS: In both groups, ODI and VAS scores significantly improved at the 6-month and 5-year follow-up. Bone formation at both 6 months and 5 years were higher in group A than that in group B, but without a significant difference when compared. Moreover, the difference in maintaining the intervertebral disc heights was not significant between the two groups. Surgical wound infection more commonly occurred in group B, but without significant difference between the two groups, and rod fractures were observed in two patients in group B; however, no metal breakage was observed in group A. CONCLUSION: Successful fusion of the intervertebral space and intervertebral height restoration can be achieved and maintained with an autograft from the patient's spinous processes.

Clinical efficacy of three types of autogenous bone grafts in treatment of single-segment thoracic tuberculosis: A retrospective cohort study.

A retrospective study investigated and compared the results of lamina with spinous process (LSP), transverse process strut (TPS) and iliac graft (IG) as bone graft in thoracic single-segment spinal tuberculosis(TB) with the one-stage posterior approach of debridement, fusion and internal instrumentation. 99 patients treated from January 2012 to December 2015 were reviewed. LSP was performed in 35 patients (group A), TPS was undertaken in 33 patients (group B), and IG was carried out in 31 patients (group C). Surgical time, blood loss, hospitalization time, drainage volume, and follow-up (FU) duration were recorded. The visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade, segmental angle, intervertebral height and bone fusion time were compared between preoperative and final FU. All the patients were followed up for a mean 43.90±10.39 months in group A, 45.30±6.20 months in group B, 44.32±7.17 months in group C without difference(P>0.05). The mean age was younger, the blood loss was less, the hospitalization time and the surgical time were shorter in group A than those in group B and C (P<0.05). The drainage volume was less in group A than that in group B and group C. The CRP, ESR, VAS, and ODI were significantly decreased and there were no significant difference among the groups at the final FU. The neurological function after surgery was improved compared with preoperation among the groups. The bony fusion at a mean time 12.90±3.91 months in group A was longer than that in group B (6.75±1.55 months) and group C (5.52±1.64 months) (P<0.05). No significant difference was found at the mean segmental angle, mean intervetebral height of preoperation and final FU among the groups (P>0.05). In conclusion, the LSP and TPS as bone graft are reliable, safe, and effective for single-segment stability reconstruction for surgical management of thoracic TB and TPS could be new bone graft methods.