[Application of heterogenous bone combined with auto-marrow in anterior cervical interbody fusion].

Objective: To study the clinical application of heterogenous bone graft combined with auto-marrow.

Methods: Deproteinated and degreased heterogenous cancellous bone combined with auto-marrow was used in 21 cases of anterior cervical interbody fusion. Among them, 2 cases were treated by bone graft only, and the other 19 cases were further treated by anterior plate fixation.

Results: The follow-up time was 12-36 months with an average of 21 months. After operation, posteroanterior and lateral radiograph of all the cases revealed that the reduction and the position of the grafting bone were good without inflammation or other complications. After 6 months of operation, the radiograph of 2 cases of cervical disk herniation, which were treated by bone graft only, showed the bones lost their height and the curve of the cervical spine returned to the state of preoperation. For the other cases, the grafting bones remained their original figure without dislocation of the bone or fracture of the plate or the screw. The nervous function recovered variously. Before operation, 10 cases were ranked as grade A, 7 cases grade C, 4 cases grade D according to Frankel classification. After operation, in grade A cases, 5 cases did not recover, 3 cases recovered to grade B, 2 cases to grade C; in grade C cases, 5 to grade D, 2 to grade E; all of grade D 4 cases to grade E.

Conclusion: Heterogenous bone combined with auto-marrow can be used as grafting material in the anterior cervical interbody fusion, but its mechanical rigidity need to be improved or the fusion should be aided with rigid internal fixation.