title: Tandem interbody fusion grafting after cervical vertebrectomy.
abstract: METHODS
  A case is presented with clinical and radiologic follow-up assessment to evaluate the possible effectiveness of tandem interbody fusion grafting.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To design a technique for rescuing a long iliac crest bone autograft that is too short or must be shortened because of the undesirable shape some long iliac crest grafts can take.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Supplementing a larger piece of autograft with a smaller piece in tandem is suggested in this report as a potentially valuable technique for a surgeon presented with a large but inadequate piece of autograft.
  
  
  METHODS
  Instead of requiring a second incision to remove iliac crest from the other side or an allograft, the technique described in this report uses a small piece of iliac crest laid in tandem with the original strut graft to span the vertebrectomy channel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A case of an anterior cervical vertebrectomy using a tandem strut graft resulted in good clinical and radiographic results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tandem graft placement can salvage a graft that is of inadequate final length.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Telfeian
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marcotte
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007085:Ilium / Q000637:transplantation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011859:Radiography; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*