[Allograft fibula in treatment of cervical spondylosis].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of allograft fibula in anterior cervical fusion for cervical spondylosis patients treated by Smith-Robinson operation supplemented with anterior instrumentation.


METHODS
The clinical outcome of 38 patients with cervical spondylosis treated by Smith-Robinson operation using allograft fibula supplemented with anterior titanium plate were retrospectively studied. The patients were followed up on average was (9.5 +/- 3.4) months. The average preoperative and postoperative JOA scores were assessed and myelopathy severity was graded using the Nurick myelopathy grading system. Lateral views in neutral position, in flexion, and in extension of preoperative cervical roentgenograms were analyzed in comparison with last follow-up films to identify the changes in the height of intervertebral space and the quality of fusion.


RESULTS
Statistical analysis of all patients revealed mean JOA scores of 12.54 +/- 1.62 and 16.07 +/- 1.13 before surgery and at final examination (P < 0.05), respectively. And the mean Nurick grades were 2.46 +/- 0.43 and 0.72 +/- 0.37 before and after surgery (P < 0.05), respectively. Radiographic follow-up revealed that the height intervertebral space and the lordosis of the cervical spine had been restored and no allograft was found displaced or collapsed and also revealed that all grafts obtained union by 5 months after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Fibular allograft can replace autologous iliac crest graft in the treatment of cervical spondylosis patients. This method is safe and efficacious and can avoid bone graft-site morbidity.
Department of Orthopaedics, General Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100853, China.
Yonggang
Y
Zhou
Yan
Y
Wang
Xinming
X
Bai
Zhengsheng
Z
Liu
Songhua
S
Xiao
Baowei
B
Liu
Shibi
S
Lu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000601:surgery*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous