Use of Bone as an Interbody Fusion Device

Abstract

The prevalence of spinal disorders and their cost to society is enormous. Spinal fusion is often recommended to alleviate disabling symptomatology and it is one of the most common operations performed today. Surgical nonunion occurs frequently, and often with less than ideal clinical results. Understanding the biology, biochemistry, and biomechanics of bone healing can increase the rate of successful fusion. In addition, the role of the graft recipient bed and the presence of underlying systemic diseases affect bone healing. Moreover, correct selection of the type of bone for the proposed graft, its site of origin, and its proper sizing to fit the planned bony defect are major factors that influence the final construct geometry and its chance of successful arthrodesis.