The use of allograft as a bone graft substitute in patients with congenital spine deformities.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of using allograft bone as a substitute for iliac crest bone graft when treating pediatric patients with congenital spine deformities. We performed a retrospective review of 107 pediatric patients who underwent instrumentation and arthrodesis using allograft for congenital spine deformity between 1995 and 2002. Pseudoarthrosis was defined as implant failure, a clear radiographic pseudoarthrosis, or any loss of correction more than 10 degrees from the immediate postoperative radiographs to the final follow-up radiographs. The pseudoarthrosis rate in this series was 2.8%, and the infection rate was 0.9%. We conclude that freeze-dried corticocancellous allograft is a safe and effective alternative to iliac crest bone graft in this patient population.