title: Freeze-dried cortical allograft in posterior spinal arthrodesis: use with segmental instrumentation for idiopathic adolescent scoliosis.
abstract: Many surgeons use cancellous or corticocancellous allogeneic bone grafts to augment spinal arthrodeses. The efficacy of onlay freeze-dried cortical allografts for posterior spinal fusions has been questioned in the past. In this report, freeze-dried, crushed cortical bone allograft was used as the sole fusion material in 32 consecutive posterior spinal fusions for idiopathic adolescent scoliosis. Absence of clinical or radiographic pseudarthrosis in all patients at an average follow up of 34 months suggests that freeze-dried, crushed cortical bone allograft is a suitable material for augmentation of the fusion mass during posterior spinal fusion with segmental instrumentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Jackson Memorial Medical Center, Fla., USA.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Stricker
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Sher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005612:Freeze Drying; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators / Q000592:standards*; D011542:Pseudarthrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome