title: The use of freeze-dried fibular allograft in anterior cervical fusion.
abstract: Eighty-three segmental fusions were performed on 42 patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with freeze-dried fibular allograft for cervical spondylosis. Fusions were carried out over one to four levels. The mean follow-up period was 22.1 months (range, 9-47 months). The patients had both clinical and radiographic follow-up. Eighty-eight percent of the patients were found to have excellent or good clinical results. Radiographic follow-up revealed that 92% of the grafts obtained complete or partial union by 6 months after surgery. Forty patients were shown to be radiographically stable on lateral flexion and extension films by 8 weeks after surgery. The use of freeze-dried fibular allograft is a safe and efficacious procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mercy Hospital, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Grossman
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Peppelman
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Baum
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Kraus
mesh_terms: D016025:Bone Transplantation; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000637:transplantation*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005612:Freeze Drying; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous