Tandem interbody fusion grafting after cervical vertebrectomy.

Abstract

A case is presented with clinical and radiologic follow-up assessment to evaluate the possible effectiveness of tandem interbody fusion grafting. To design a technique for rescuing a long iliac crest bone autograft that is too short or must be shortened because of the undesirable shape some long iliac crest grafts can take. Supplementing a larger piece of autograft with a smaller piece in tandem is suggested in this report as a potentially valuable technique for a surgeon presented with a large but inadequate piece of autograft. Instead of requiring a second incision to remove iliac crest from the other side or an allograft, the technique described in this report uses a small piece of iliac crest laid in tandem with the original strut graft to span the vertebrectomy channel. A case of an anterior cervical vertebrectomy using a tandem strut graft resulted in good clinical and radiographic results. Tandem graft placement can salvage a graft that is of inadequate final length.