title: The use of allograft as a bone graft substitute in patients with congenital spine deformities.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of using allograft bone as a substitute for iliac crest bone graft when treating pediatric patients with congenital spine deformities. We performed a retrospective review of 107 pediatric patients who underwent instrumentation and arthrodesis using allograft for congenital spine deformity between 1995 and 2002. Pseudoarthrosis was defined as implant failure, a clear radiographic pseudoarthrosis, or any loss of correction more than 10 degrees from the immediate postoperative radiographs to the final follow-up radiographs. The pseudoarthrosis rate in this series was 2.8%, and the infection rate was 0.9%. We conclude that freeze-dried corticocancellous allograft is a safe and effective alternative to iliac crest bone graft in this patient population.
authors: Children's Hospital Boston/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. daniel.hedequist@childrens.harvard.edu
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Hedequist
authors: Howard
authors: H
authors: Yeon
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Emans
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000379:methods*; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D005612:Freeze Drying; D006801:Humans; D007085:Ilium / Q000637:transplantation; D007223:Infant; D011542:Pseudarthrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013131:Spine / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome