Abstract
Aims: To determine whether the use of Biphasic Calcium Phosphate (BCP) plus local autogenous graft modifies our clinical results and fusion rate, in comparison with iliac crest graft alone. Methods: Prospective and nonrandomized study. 40 patients were operated on with pedicle instrumentation and posterolateral fusion. Degenerative lumbar disease was the etiology. 25 patients had one level fusion and 15 two or more. Minimum follow-up: 1 year. 15 patients were smokers (17.4 cig/day). The Oswestry disability index at 0, 3, 6 and 12 months was filled in to see the evolution and final clinical result. To evaluate the fusion, X-ray criteria were used. Results: Oswestry test changed from 63,8 to 16,4 at the end of the study. 3 patients did not achieve fusion (7,5%), none of them smokers. Up to date we have been working with the same idea but trying to increase the fusion rate by adding bone marrow to BCP and grafts. The initial results are very encouraging. Conclusions: We have no difference in our non-union rate between previous historic register and the new technique.
Similar clinical results were obtained but the proportion of excellent/good has improved with iliac crest preservation.
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Dr. Frantz Langlais. Correspondence should be addressed to him at EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
