title: Multilevel anterior cervical fusion using skull bone grafts. Case report.
abstract: The successful use of autogenous skull bone grafts for a C3-7 anterior cervical fusion is reported and compared with results using other bone grafts. A 51-year-old man with C4-7 anterior cord compression due to spurs and ossified posterior longitudinal ligaments developed progressive tetraparesis following a minor head injury. He underwent anterior decompression and fusion. On two occasions an iliac graft had failed; however, a graft of autogenous skull bone was successful. The skull bone was found superior to bone from other sites, such as the iliac crest, rib, tibia, and fibula, showing sufficient strength and less morbidity. The skull may be a better source of graft material for multilevel anterior cervical fusion, which requires long and strong grafts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Yaizu Municipal Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ninchoji
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uemura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugiura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohishi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takehara
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012886:Skull / Q000637:transplantation*; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*