title: Radiographic evaluation of bioactive glass-ceramic grafts in postero-lateral lumbar fusion.
abstract: METHODS
  Follow-up study of bioactive glass-ceramic graft for postero-lateral fusion (PLF) in the lumbar spine was performed using plain radiography.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the fusion state of the porous stick type of bioactive glass-ceramic which has been used in PLF in the lumbar spine, by plain radiography, and to evaluate the usefulness of this technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen patients who underwent PLF using apatite and wollastonite-containing glass-ceramic (A-W. GC) were followed-up for more than 1 year and 6 months by plain radiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six patients who were followed up for more than 2 years were considered to have obtained subtotal or total fusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PLF using A-W. GC mixed with autologous grafted bone can preserve bone stock without the need to harvest a bone graft from the iliac crest and will be useful for PLF in the lumbar spine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Society, Wakayama Medical Center, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ido
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asada
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuriyama
mesh_terms: D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002516:Ceramics; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011859:Radiography; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome