Anatomic feasibility of a new endopelvic approach for iliac crest bone harvesting

• Published in: Surgical and radiologic anatomy (English ed.) 2016-12, Vol.38 (10), p.1191-1194
• Main Authors: Le Pape, S., Du Pouget, L., Cloche, T., Campana, M., Obeid, I., Boissiere, L., Vital, J.-M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Anatomy; Back surgery; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 - adverse effects; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 - therapeutic use; Bone Transplantation - adverse effects; Bone Transplantation - methods; Bones; Cadaver; Cancellous Bone - transplantation; Dissection; Feasibility Studies; Female; Humans; Ilium - transplantation; Imaging; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Article; Orthopedics; Radiology; Recombinant Proteins - adverse effects; Recombinant Proteins - therapeutic use; Retroperitoneal Space; Spinal Fusion - methods; Spine; Surgery; Tissue and Organ Harvesting - adverse effects; Tissue and Organ Harvesting - methods; Transforming Growth Factor beta - adverse effects; Transforming Growth Factor beta - therapeutic use; Transplantation, Autologous - adverse effects; Transplantation, Autologous - methods
• ISSN: 0930-1038; 1279-8517
• DOI: 10.1007/s00276-016-1686-x

Purpose For the past few years, anterior exposure for surgery of the lumbar spine has gained popularity for the treatment of disk disease or spondylosis. Cancellous bone remains the gold standard for fusion. Iliac crest bone harvesting is safe but there are donor site complications. Bone substitutes exist, like recombinant human bone morphogenic protein-2 rhBMP-2. This alternative offers a high rate of fusion but with local and general complications. The aim of our study is to show the feasibility of an endopelvic approach for iliac bone crest harvesting to avoid donor site complication. Method Twenty anterior retroperitoneal lumbar spine approaches have been realized in the anatomy department of the University of Bordeaux. The volumes of cancellous bone have been measured and procedure complications have been reported. Results The mean volume of cancellous bone was 5.9 cc, the maximum volume was 8.2 cc and the minimum volume was 4.5 cc. No complications have been reported during the approach or the bone harvesting. Conclusions Anterior retroperitoneal approach for iliac bone crest harvesting is a safe way to obtain sufficient volume of cancellous bone for a single lumbar spinal fusion. This exposure avoids the risks of an iliac crest donor site complications or rhBMP-2 complications.