title: Perceptions of allograft safety and efficacy among spinal deformity surgeons.
abstract: Since current bone procurement and processing standards have been adopted, published studies have consistently shown that the risk of disease transmission from allograft is small. The purpose of this study was to evaluate allograft use and opinions regarding allograft safety during spinal deformity surgery. A postal survey was sent to 151 pediatric orthopaedists chosen from a cross-referenced listing of active members of both the Scoliosis Research Society and the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America. The survey consisted of six questions covering allograft use during idiopathic and neuromuscular scoliosis cases, concerns about disease transmission, preoperative counseling, concerns about providers, and evaluation of clinical results. The response rate was 80%. Allograft bone use was reported by 96% of those responding for neuromuscular cases and by 62% for idiopathic cases. Infection (68%) and pseudoarthrosis (26%) were the most common topics mentioned among the 41% who addressed potential risks. Variation was found in surgeons' perceptions regarding the safety and efficacy of allograft for scoliosis surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, USA.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Woolf
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gross
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D009985:Orthopedics; D010372:Pediatrics; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous