Radiographic evaluation of bioactive glass-ceramic grafts in postero-lateral lumbar fusion.

Abstract

Follow-up study of bioactive glass-ceramic graft for postero-lateral fusion (PLF) in the lumbar spine was performed using plain radiography. To investigate the fusion state of the porous stick type of bioactive glass-ceramic which has been used in PLF in the lumbar spine, by plain radiography, and to evaluate the usefulness of this technique. Fourteen patients who underwent PLF using apatite and wollastonite-containing glass-ceramic (A-W. GC) were followed-up for more than 1 year and 6 months by plain radiography. Six patients who were followed up for more than 2 years were considered to have obtained subtotal or total fusion. PLF using A-W. GC mixed with autologous grafted bone can preserve bone stock without the need to harvest a bone graft from the iliac crest and will be useful for PLF in the lumbar spine.