Fusion rate and clinical outcome in anterior lumbar interbody fusion with beta-tricalcium phosphate and bone marrow aspirate as a bone graft substitute. A prospective clinical study in fifty patients

• Published in: International orthopaedics 2017-02, Vol.41 (2), p.333-339
• Main Authors: Lechner, Ricarda, Putzer, David, Liebensteiner, Michael, Bach, Christian, Thaler, Martin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Animals; Bone Marrow - surgery; Bone Substitutes - therapeutic use; Bone Transplantation - methods; Calcium Phosphates - therapeutic use; Female; Humans; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration - surgery; Lumbar Vertebrae - surgery; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Original Paper; Orthopedics; Prospective Studies; Spinal Fusion - methods; Spinal Fusion - statistics & numerical data; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0341-2695; 1432-5195
• DOI: 10.1007/s00264-016-3297-x

Purpose Bone graft substitutes have been successfully used in posterolateral lumbar fusion, anterior cervical fusion and animal studies. This study has been conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) in instrumented anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) procedure. Methods In a prospective clinical study, ALIF cages were prefilled with β-TCP and additionally fixated with posterior pedicle screw. Computed tomography (CT) and X-rays were performed one year after surgery. Fusion was assessed and functional status was evaluated before and one year after surgery. Results X-ray evaluation showed a definite fusion in 85.48 % of treated levels. CT assessment showed anterior and posterior intersegemental bone bridging in 77.78 % of treated levels. Conclusions The X-ray fusion rate presented is comparable with those published for ALIF procedures with bone graft. Fusion rates β-TCP are similar to autologous bone. ALIF with β-TCP and additional posterior fixation is a safe and effective procedure.