Tandem interbody fusion grafting after cervical vertebrectomy.
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.
Telfeian
A E
AE
Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
Marcotte
P
P
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*